I see it as a trade off. More is gained than is lost. As Saban reminded the media in the post-game presser, it is critical that the reserves get opportunities to commit mistakes (and learn from them) in a real game without the game itself hanging in the balance. As we know, they are only one play away from being called upon in a competitive game. So effectively, games like this are an investment back into our team. While I too am not a fan of these kinds of opponents, I can nevertheless appreciate their utility, given the current system. I personally would love to see the regular season reduced by 1-2 games, 2 idle weeks inserted into the season, a 4-8 team playoff, and other modifications which would, among other things, eliminate/reduce the utility in scheduling cup-cakes, but that's another can of worms.
I too didn't watch the game. I was content to watch all the scoring plays on ESPN.com later last night. I may watch the replay tonight or tomorrow on CSS, if I've got time.