I think about Dornoch often in the context of this post. I've played it a number of times and consider it among my very favorite courses in the world. But I am also more aware of its weaknesses (some of which have been highlighted) than any other course in that top tier. Ultimately, I just think the strengths significantly outweigh its shortcomings.
While its sense of place and cohesiveness is memorable, I hesitate to call the course greater than the sum of its parts. I agree that a couple of holes don't live up to the rest, but the sum of its parts is pretty darn good. If I try to rank all 36 holes between The Old Course and Dornoch, I end up with a top 18 that is close to evenly split.
There are a number of opportunities for heroic and penal shots, but it isn't usually a "do or die" situation. Success is rewarded, but failure still leaves room for recovery, albeit with increasingly limited options on the next shot. Meanwhile, the safe play typically leaves you with numerous options throughout.
In that sense, the course's strategy is often in the form of using restraint to maximize options. Here are two examples: It's not uncommon for the best score on hole 2 to come from the player who lays up to the landing pad in front of the green. That player can secure a relatively straightforward bogey, while still having a reasonable chance at par (and also having several options on their second shot). Those who challenge the green can find themselves playing ping pong (and there may only be one shot type in play).
On the 3rd hole, long hitters will try to drive it over the corner of the gorse. It's great if they pull it off, but there's a small margin of error. Meanwhile, the 220 yard shot aimed straight at the bunkers will tumble down the fairway, stay short of the bunkers, and leave a perfect angle into the green (where a running second shot is welcomed).
I'll add praise for one more hole: the 12th. I believe it's highly underrated and among the best par 5s in the world. Going for the green in two requires an incredibly exacting shot to navigate the bunker on the right and the mound / falloff on the left. Even though the green is massive, the target feels like threading a needle and requires a confident swing. For those playing it as a true three-shot hole, the second shot requires precision to ideally challenge the right bunker ~60 yards short of the green in order to maximize the angle. It could be my favorite hole on the course.
Dornoch gets a mystical reputation that can be hard to live up to. Then again, there is something mystical about walking up the hill from town to the course and embracing its challenging journey.