Jim,
I generally agree with most of your points, but its a broad topic and hard to generalize.
I will add that right after WWII, some architects wrote of wanting a completely new American style (like FLW, and who could blame them for wanting to sort of forget 20 years filled with the depression followed by WWII?) Architecture and Industrial design were moving forward, not looking back, with streamline design of jets and passenger trains, Art Deco, etc. The golf course architects wanted to do some of that as well.
And yes, form follows function, machine maintenance was coming into full force, so yes, broad slopes and simple shapes also facilitated maintenance.
And real estate courses took care of the biggest distance issue in golf - the distance between front door and first tee. The probably also killed off the idea of native grass areas, because that's not what homeowners wanted to look at.
And, yes, aesthetics remained important in golf design, but the real estate and other sites rarely afforded too much natural beauty. So they sought to create it with tree planting, on top of that manicured grass outsiders wanted to look at, etc.
And, it was before USGA greens, so they could more easily afford larger greens that would now be the envy of most architects constrained by cost. And, multiple tees, while not as well thought out as today, were certainly functional in getting more women in the game.
I do recall Dick Nugent warning me on my first day that all the great courses had been built, and what we needed now were playable ones, sort of lowering the design bar, although obviously RTJ and Wilson didn't think the same way. They just equated hard with good.
But, in general, I have a more favorable take on that period than most here. While it's easy to look back after a decade of great projects, it seems that their designs sort of had to happen the way they did. They were probably right for the time. And, they probably felt they were just as right that they found gca nirvana with their designs as anyone working today does.
The only thing I know for sure is that most folks will look back at any era of design (including this one) and point out the flaws to explain why they are doing something different. Its just human nature and pop culture. I mean, we've already started to trash the 90's as misguided attempts to win awards and be too spectacular. Surely, something new will drive design making those of us working now look a little silly to many. Just my take.