I swing both ways on this one.
I'm perfectly content to play alone and enjoy the course and outdoors otherwise. But its preferrable to have good company with a few laughs...if for no other reason so they can pull the flagstick for you.
However, I do like to look at the course, try to figure out what the architect was trying to do, ponder alternate routings, etc. For me, it adds a lot of interest to the round, especially when its "cali-5.5-hour-round" special. Even when its a 1 or 2 on the Doak scale, I try to envision what I would add or do different to make the course more interesting.