As a former member of CN who has played the course hundreds of times but has only played MH once, all I can say is that they are different courses. CN has forced carries galore as wetlands are a big feature of the course. To coin a phrase,MH is more of a traditional modern course. When CN opened in 1990 it created quite a buzz in the area as the first new private club in many years. When MH opened, the buzz just wasn't there. CN attracts many low handicappers as evidenced by their recent GAP championships. Obviously, they aren't put off by the difficulty of the course. As for mid handicappers, course management is the key at CN. The difficulty at CN is off the tee and getting to the green. The greens are comparitively mild. If they were more undulating, the already high slope ratings from all tees would be much higher. Of course, the office buildings at CN detract from the visual experience but do not come into play unless you really hit an absolutely terrible shot.
I too prefer Wissahickon over MH.
Some tougher courses do make a better golf course- think Oakmont and Pine Valley. CN has found its niche in the area- a tough golf course for the low handicappers to enjoy and a good place to be for mid handicappers who can manage their game. If you like a diverse, friendly and low key membership, you'll like CN