The only time I can't stand when a team takes the direct path is in runs like "The Pendant of Kamehameha" or "The Paintbrush of Leonardo Da Vinci". Especially when the team had less than two pendants. In the pendant episode, if Robbie didn't take the direct path, the team wouldn't have encountered a third guard. Or if the Orange Iguanas didn't take the direct path in the paintbrush episodes, they wouldn't have encountered that deadend. Luckily, it was mostly first season runs when this happened.
I agree with that, and IMO, the one time I can't stand a "direct path" is in episodes like "Elizabeth The First's Golden Ship" and "The Electrified Key in Benjamin Franklin," where a team has less than two pendants with an artifact so close by. Those teams outright blew it because of the direct path. I do usually let the "direct path" thing slide in Season 1, since its a new show. But by Seasons 2 and 3, you should know better.
I guess its true about "Silver Horseshoe." I mean, the Orange Iguanas did such an awful job in Season 1 that this was the first time they even REACH an artifact, let alone escape with a victory and bring it out. But like I said earlier on in the thread, the Purple Parrots could have pulled off a victory much sooner. I also agree about "The Moccasins of Geronimo." I mean, sure the layout was way too easy, and sure the kid was slow, but it really does seem like he had the whole layout planned, just to avoid the temple guards. But I do agree with others, that there was NO way he would have pulled off that win in a Season 3 temple.