I think there is a market and a need for both kinds of adventures. Classically, these are Scripted (often called Adventure Paths) and Unscripted (often called Sandboxes). There isn't anything wrong with either one. I've used both and will continue to purchase and employ both. For a busy GM/Referee, scripted adventures can be a godsend. For a Ref with more time on his or her hands, unscripted can be a blast. Why should there be one canonical answer?
Another answer is that scripted adventures go a long way to conveying the "feel" of a universe. It's easier to run some unscripted adventures after I've run or read some scripted ones.
Another answer is that scripted adventures go a long way to conveying the "feel" of a universe. It's easier to run some unscripted adventures after I've run or read some scripted ones.