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Scoring in relation to par is just done for the artificial drama.

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I don't really agree with this at least for the men. Look at Paddy at Carnastie. Pros almost never play a par four to lay up ever. Reargdless of par a player should play a hole that gives them the best chance to make a certain score but it doesn't happen that way. Imagine if your in the hunt, tied or in the lead on the 71st tee box of the open. If its a par five and you choose to hit hybrid off the tee and intentionally play it as a three shot hole its no big deal but if its a par four and you do that your gonna get grilled if you don't pull it off.

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This is a good point. The scorecard can be a hazard, but only if you let it. A smart player knows par is artificial and meaningless really. When a player does something like Toms laying up on the par 4 at the end of the PGA people think about it more. It really is kind of silly though. From a given position, the player should simply think of how to play to have the best chance at a given score. Certainly if the player knows he needs a birdie a more aggressive play may be in order, although not necessarily off the tee. Anyway, I think in general people get way too hung up on par, including people who should know better, like those at the USGA.