Sean,
Two examples come to mind, maybe three:
ADA compliance, above and beyond. Surprised at how many designers poo poo the idea a dozen years after ADA became law. I played in and ADA tourney and visited an disabled hospital where they were working on adaptive devices. Changed my opinon. Does a bunker really need to be 20 foot deep to challenge the 1% of great players, or is it more important to make it shallow for the .001% of disabled golfers?
Not elevating tees because its hard for seniors to walk up to them. At 56, I am getting more sympathetic all the time!
Eliminating long forced carries for women and beginners. One famous gca was said to have been told that a forced carry of a water hazard and deep bunker effectively ended women's rounds at the ninth hole. He said " Should have put it at the first hole!" Not much in golf design has ever been sympathetic to women, and now that they are an important demographic, that should change, although, when I say it that way, it sounds more sympathic to the golf course owners......