Well, after a week or so of giving the one-hole thing a chance, I have to say I am enjoying this game a lot less than when it was three-hole play. Too much depends on luck, superior experience and skill doesn't matter as much, and I miss the occasional conversation with my opponent (one hole is not long enough to establish much dialogue).
Also, my absolute most gratifying thing about three-hole play - when I would fall behind my a couple of shots on the first hole, but catch up to tie or win by the end - is gone. One bad shot in 1-hole play and you're pretty much done for unless your opponent messes up, too.
I do like the tiebreaker, though - adds a little drama.
I understand that 9-hole play does provide a lot of the benefits mentioned above, but I'm a pretty busy person who has a lot of interruptions, and it's difficult to carve out 20-30 minutes of "down time" to play a 9-hole game, so I don't do it much.
I'm cool with there being a one-hole-play coin room, but on the balance this wholesale switch has been deeply disappointing and I find myself less motivated to play.
Bad move, WGT.