Very interesting, Sarah, to note that the problems were caused by people growing vegetables, instead of flowers. Seems like people would appreciate the fact that you can eat your harvest, instead of just cutting them for a centerpiece for the dinner table.
We move our corn patch around every year (trying to work out ruts where it was bush-hogged before we moved in) and I think a corn patch out front would provide some privacy, at least until our trees grow.
Unlike the person in the article that thought the corn patch was ugly, I think it is beautiful.
I don't think that it could stand the drainage problems we have out there, though...