This!!!!
I agree, gameflow/gameplans does't make the game any harder or easier. Sliders, threshold and coaching schemes do that.
As Law97 points out Madden 12 gameplans are way to generic which makes gameplay predictable. Gameplans, especially defensive gameplans give cpu teams more realistic personalities, as shipped, all teams regardless of base D rely heavily on cover three and only three goaline plays.
Ever wonder why so easy to score against cpu most of the time in goaline situations? Open up any teams defensive gameplan and see the same three goaline choices, pretty easy to find a play that beats all three 90% of the time. Give a good defensive team half a dozen more choices and not so easy any more.
I have found some offensive gameplans to be unique, most reflect real NFL teams tendencies but many teams lack proper formations, especially singleback and shotgun.
Don't like four verts as default 3rd and long play. Real NFL is a copy cat league, check out other teams playbooks, click on "my gameplan" and find situation 3rd and long. Take a look at what other teams use for third and long. Also, open your teams playbook, look at all plays and look for plays that you think may work for third and long. Keep in mind what hotroutes you can use against certain looks, add that play or any plays you like from any other team to your playbook and give it a high rating. Give any plays a high enough rating and your coordinaters will call it.
Think your cheating looking at other teams gameplans? Real teams look at film and can pretty much dissect a teams possible gameplan based on that. Gameplans are as close to film as we get in Madden. Since we don't call cpu plays we can't know for sure what play is called and even at the times we do we still have to execute. I even adjust elite cpu teams gameplans to attack my weaknesses.
Yeah, I'm a big fan of gameplans simply because it makes gameplay far less predictable for me.
As Law97 points out, once again EA didn't seem to spend much time on this. Takes a lot of time to set up in the beginning but pretty cool once your up and running. No need to change anything after gameplans are all set unless you want to.