I'm convinced! Pulling the flag IS beneficial!
Since originally posting this thread, I've managed to drain a bunch of chips from off the green with the flag pulled. The ball boinks the lip, bounces up and around, but eventually drops into the cup. The physics must be setup to take the slight, sudden drop in elevation of the ball across the void of the cup, as a cue to allow the ball to enter the cup? I dunno...
Conversely, when I've either forgotten to pull it, or purposely left the flagstick in for chips and giggles... the ball has hit the flag, and veered-off... never resting closer than 3-4 feet away from the cup, even though some chips wouldn't have traveled that far past if I'd missed the stick completely. The sticks must be made of that new space-aged whale-alloy, "Flubber".
Don't get me wrong, I've made my share of chips with the flag in, too, but these were shots that were the perfect speed... the perfect line.
I'm so convinced, I've taken to pulling the pin on flop shots (made a few of those), pitches (made one), as well as PAR 3's! Now get real... haven't got one of those yet... but just today, "Master" Baiken and I were in a match on BPB front9, and I hit the flagstick on the short 3 there after not pulling the flagstick. Veered-off to maybe 12 feet. I doubt this one would've dropped, though... it hit pretty hard. This happened two days ago to me, too. Then, it probably WOULD'VE dropped. It was weird. Must've hit the stick dead-on, because I saw the ball jump BACKWARDS 4feet. lol. The guys I was playing with were like... "No way!".
Save the Whales, Pull the Flag!