Ever since the golfing public has had the taste of the high profile professionals — beginning with early American tournaments until modern televised events — the average player has longed to emulate the length of the professional. "Father is better," and certainly more 'macho' than just focusing on accuracy. Unlike Wm Flynn, who said "Accuracy, carry and then length..." the modern golfer is all about "Length, carry and then accuracy." Not everyone, but I would say most.
So, this leads to golfers not always playing the appropriate tees. Unless, of course, the course (or a few holes) only have "appropriate" tees. For example, on a shortish par-4 nearly everyone can "win" when playing from the farthest back tees. But, on a long par-5, the 200 yard player struggles from the back. Yet, just one long hole here and there will not convince him to shift. So, we leave him with too long of a golf hole, and on the aggregate, too long of a golf course. One not designed for him, but for the longer player — or even a professional.
There is no debate — we have built courses longer since the 1960s than we were building them previously. And, we have done this to keep up with the hitting distances of the minority — yet a minority that has a strong and passionate following.