An observation I would make is that the rules, at their core, have followed architecture. The original 13 rules outlined in 1744 were in direct response to the conditions and features found on the Old Musselburgh Links, the then home of what became the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. Other clubs adopted and adapted those rules for the conditions found on their courses. And those rules continue to echo in the Rules of Golf today.
To be sure, some of the later developments in technology were driven by the rules governing equipment, as some point out, the changes in the ball especially. But the opposite is also true, equipment drove changes in rules. I think the latter is a trend that will grow, the ruling bodies will introduce and modify rules in response to technology. The change in groove specifications being the first recent example, but indications we will see more changes in the coming years.
Another related question would be how has technology affected architecture. That is an obvious question that is discussed directly and indirectly on this site all the time but I think it fair to say that architecture has been much more impacted by technology than the rules.
By the way, seeing what Bob Crosby and JVB were talking about with the golf ball, although it may be obvious to some it might not have occured to some when the subject of the R&A/USGA Rules of Golf are discussed but technically there are 3-4 categories of R&A/USGA Rules.
1. The actual playing Rules of Golf (and some appendices that impact them such as Local Rules, Conditions of Comp wording etc.
2. I&B Rules of Golf
3. Amateur Status Rules of Golf
4. To some extent handicap Rules of the USGA. I don't believe the R&A has or has ever had any of their own Rules on handicapping because that is an area they have never really gotten into.
Tom, I understand what you are saying here but I would not put Amateur Status and Handicapping into the same category. They do not dictate how we play the game but rather how we categorize players, and I see no connection to Amateur Status and Handicapping.
And, at the risk of embarrassing myself, what is "I&B Rules of Golf?