I think a defined-route randonnee that has the shortest distance between controls either has too many controls or the route uses roads that I wouldn't want to ride on. In general, I find that randonneuring involves riding on roads that I would avoid on my own rides, and that's one thing that puts me off about it. The ACP doesn't require route designers to use the shortest route, and any RBA that does so even though they are aware that the roads are not particularly suitable for riding on is one that I will avoid if possible. I kinda wish that rusa would do something about this. There are rides where I contemplated dnf'ing because the roads were too dangerous, but I didn't know a safer way back. Putting riders on a 2 lane, no shoulder, 55mph bumper to bumper traffic road for 50 miles should be disqualifying for a RBA.