The course that immediately comes to my mind when thinking of uninspiring land is Carnoustie. By links standards it's almost entirely flat and has no views of any consequence to give it any special visual appeal. Yet it's a great course. Okay, the winding burn has it's part to play but I've always thought highly of the bunkering and the way the bunkers determine the lines and angles of play eg central bunkers on both the 2nd and 6th holes, the dead ground effect of the bunkers short of the 10th and 14th greens, etc. Proper bunkering too, in your face and deep both around the greens and on the fairways as well.
As to Donal's question of why we don't see more of it, well I'm not sure, but I wish we did. In addition, to respond to the point of was Harry Colt a master of this, well I've always been extremely impressed with the thought provoking strategic aspects of his fairway bunkering and green-sites he built that I've seen have been well, simply wonderful - not many up-n-downs arn't challenging when Harry Colt was involved in the courses design. Herbert Fowlers bunkering is terrific as well.
Good thread, well raised Donal.
All the best.