I've given this some thought now and then.
In the early days there was minimal equipment for earth moving, so course designers found great pieces of land and let nature dictate the course.
When equipment became available, course designers went nuts. They wanted to take advantage of the new tools, and they let the tool decide the course rather than nature. They were showing off. It is similar to how a poster feels here when they first discover how to use the USB code. They go nuts and their post becomes a display of their USB prowess, rather than a message. Eventually, hopefully they get over it, and start using the tool rather than letting the tool use them.
I think is the point we are at now. There are some designers who get it and have figured out the equipment is just tools. Unfortunately there are others who are still showing off.