Kelly, (and Tom)
I agree, and its not that I wouldn't like to travel to Scotland before every new design, for the reasons you both state. For those who build various types of models, the axiom is to use the real thing as your benchmark, not another model. From that standpoint, absorbing TOC again is the very best way to create an authentic golf course, rather than a copy of a copy.
On the other hand, as golf has moved far afield, there are still technical things you can learn, like how others have drained golf courses in New Orleans that are below sea level, how others have handled rock ledges if you haven't, etc. so you can have the underlying bones of the course work for whatever you do on top.
Not sure I agree with Tom on lack of diversity now. While I would say that was true in the 80-90's, I think we may have more diversity now in approach than ever before. My take on the Golden Age guys was they were all doing about the same angle strategies, and the 60's on guys were all designing for maintenance. Now, you have gca's trained by Dye, Nicklaus, Dick Wilson, RTJ, Killian and Nugent, and others, or their successors or predessors, and each trying to move slightly away from their mentor's style. From minimalism to maximalism and all across the board.