The problem I see with this is that RW doesn't identify its limitations (much). I've seen Amby state that the mag is written for 7:00-10:00 pace runners, but not often.
I don't see a problem with a mag that's written for runners who think of 8:00 pace as "speedwork," or the Penguin, or Gallowalking, or "Run your best 5K in 5 weeks," as long as it's understood that these are written for, let's say, a group of people who don't want to work very hard.
But now, let's say that your beginner has been to a few races and has gotten the racing bug. He doesn't think 22:30 as "fast" any more, and he wants to go to Carlsbad and run 18-something. So he picks up one of these RW magic plans, tries real hard, and fails. He runs 22:15, and says to himself, "I'll never be any good as a distance runner," and gives up, not understanding that the training plan he picked up was simply not for the 17:00-20:00 crownd (let alone sub-15). He doesn't understand that if he wants to go from RW to "competitive," he needs a longer, more progressive buildup, and he needs more volume or quality (or both).
Yes, some people will eventually find T&FN, Daniels, Glover, Coe/Martin, etc. But how many never get there, because RW never tells them?