I'm not sure I watched the same broadcast that you guys watched. I thought the broadcast was interesting and compelling. Yes, they focused on the matches that were close and competitive, but that made everything more nerve wracking IMO.
I do wish there was greater use of the shot tracker, it really helps with anticipation on the shots.
Overall, I watched just about every minute of the NBC broadcasts on my laptop while in London and found the production well done. No serious complaints on my part.
As for the play through commercials... it allows the viewer to keep up with the action in real time while the commercial is playing. How is that a bad thing? The only better option is the Masters format of limited commercials. Until the Ryder Cup adopts that format the playthough commercials are a welcomed compromise for me.