Olorin21: There's no reason that a shot that barely trickles into a fairway bunker should end up plugged with a 50% lie!
Very valid point and has been commented on many times in the past.
But is it a bad thing? Unlike in real golf, with the precision and forgiveness of the clubs, we seldom find ourselves missing the fairway - just a comparison of fairways hit highlights this.
So whilst it is unrealistic to have a plugged ball, at least it is a penalty for finding the trap.
As for pitching from the rough, I tend to disagree. Remember the courses on WGT are courses that majors are played on, and the rough can be brutal and pitching is no guarantee that you will hit a great shot. Going back a couple of years, WGT changed the attributes from the rough. Previously you could still hit a money shot from any rough, now it is more unpredictable by the ball coming up short or rolling way past....this they got right IMO.
With experience you will work out what shots are best to play on certain holes, courses and lies. Always play percentages as seldom does that "miracle" shot pay off.
You sound like a golfer, but in real golf would your enjoyment be taken away because you shot an 80/90, hacking your way around the course? Probably not, but here you are worrying about a couple of shots a round.
Treat the game as a challenge and set yourself goals....and if you find yourself in a fw bunker, make the goal to save par....
But above all, have fun.