Garland,
I guess I left out what Tom mentioned. I have no idea if 100+ years (or more, if going to the original) ago without irrigation, if they figured a ball would hop the bunker onto the green? I think I recall that happening at Prestwick when I played there. Either way, as design thought has emerged, I agree with Tom, no one would take a chance on a shot that has even a 50% chance of ending up in a bunker, probably better explaining the answer to your questions.
TBH, I also left out the 2 bunkers on the right of the green, as it was a public course. I wonder if those frontal bunkers blocked the approach from the right if the up and over alternative would be stronger? I doubt it. Carrying bunkers you see is still less risky than playing a blind shot, especially the first time or two you play the course.
Thanks perhaps to participating on this site, I bump and run approaches, just because, and would play the blind shots just for fun, but anyone concerned with score at all probably would not.