Higher handicappers like this and if it helps playability for the golfer that only hits the ball 80-100 yards in the air (my point is there are lots of golfers that don't carry it too far) why not have fairway there? I personally like options that help the higher handicapper but don't diminish the challenge and interest for the better golfer - win win for all.
I think my work would indicate that I understand this ... hell, I built the 7th at Barnbougle, which is probably the shortest par-3 in the world where golfers might deliberately lay up.
But, I just think it's gotten to the point of political correctness now, where everyone thinks they have to build a fairway even if they've got six sets of forward tees and everyone is supposed to hit the green.
Look at the great courses for a moment. There's no fairway in front of the 8th green at The Old Course. No fairway on #3 or #10 or #14 at Pine Valley. No fairway at #3 or #9 or #13 at Merion. No fairway on #7 at Pebble Beach, or #15 at Cypress Point. Somehow those holes are all acceptable, or even iconic.
I realized this when I was working on the North course at Stonewall, and it just didn't make sense to me to put any fairway in front of the green on the short 9th hole there. I love how it turned out. Yes, it's tougher for some short hitters. I just think it's okay to do that, once in a great while.