i think the point of the PAT is that it is an automatic 1 point, but a tempting, much more challenging 2 points. i mean, the northwestern game was exponentially more interesting because of the 2 point conversion attempt.
maybe pat's make more sense when you think about the history of the game (before the forward lateral) and when you think about a time before overtime.
i think the system is fine the way it is. is should be an automatic one point, more challenging two-points and every once in a while it is blocked or missed and that has a huge impact.
it is like a free throw, just another opportunity to score; but it is pointless to compare different sports because they all have their nuances and quirks that do not make sense in any other context except the game in which it exists.