Exacerbating this is the apparent desire to use "smaller areas". I agree with arnold that a good middle course will have a similar number of controls to a good long. This implies a doubling in the control density - something with which most areas cannot cope.
Doubling in terms of controls per km of course, but since courses tend to be more circular than straight line, it may mean closer to quadrupling in terms of controls per hectare of land.
Which perhaps then encourages a higher density of courses / runners per control, exacerbating the honeypot syndrome.