I meant no offense to your viewpoint. There is plenty to do in RMNP just not in your car. It is not "locked away from the public" you just cant do it in a vehicle.
Yellowstone is 9 times the size of RMNP but it only has 4 times as much road, it only has less than 3 times the amount of trail mileage. Does the YNP loop road get you to some of the great features of the park yes but you only see 20% of the park unless you get on the trails or back country regardless of length. Not really different than RMNP. Arches National Park has several thousand arches in it if you stay on the road you will see maybe 50 at best the rest take walking to see and yet there are only about 10 trails in that park that will get you to see another 50 at best the rest is get a back country permit and go for it.
While I do like Abbey to a certain degree as a writer I have never thought of myself as Abbeyesq, no monkey wrenching for me or over the top views on environmental issues or access but the fact is we cant all go everywhere we would like to go. Same applies to me. There are many places that I would like to go and see but don't have the strength, fortitude, stamina, equipment, financial wherewithal or whatever other reason to do so and so be it doesn't mean that that particular location doesn't have a lot of appeal or nothing to do for someone else for some of those same reasons. Does RMNP have less spectacular sites than YNP well that would depend on what you like. The thermal features there are fantastic but some in my family could care less about them. Grand Tetons National Park is there even one road that penetrates the mountains within the park, no but still eyeball bustin' scenery and worth going to see.
Just a different viewpoint not meaning to rag on yours.