I am wondering if the OP is insinuating drilling and ball selection can be used instead of surface adjustment.

If we assume a bowler at his center will have all of his equipment end up at the same surface, then ball selection and drilling can be used to fine tune his/her shot.  Bowler buys a ball like the Hyroad and then assuming the surface will end up at say 3000, then drills accordingly based on experience with R2S hybrid.

I can see the logic in this, though I like the idea of being able to be reactive in surface and maximize my potential.  But that is me.

From my point of view, a ball has a designed-in ball reaction on a specified oil amount, based on 3 factors: the coverstock strength, the core strength and the stock surface, for a medium rev, medium ball speed bowler.

One has to learn/find what that desired ball reaction is. Then one has to know how one's own specific release/delivery specs differ from the theoretical average bowler. Then you have to apply that difference to the ball, to understand how that ball will react for you.

Then, knowing the oil pattern and amount (and lane surface) for which you are buying that ball, you have to decide how to drill that ball to best utilize its basic ball reaction for your own good. (That oil amount/pattern/lane surface could be your house shot or it could be a tournament condition.)

Once you try that ball using its stock surface, you have to decide if that surface gets the reaction you are looking for. If not, then you have to decide which surface will best meet your needs/wants/desires.

Once you decide on a surface, you PROBABLY should maintain that surface because one that surface or its close approximation, with that drilling, will get you what you need/want.

If you don't maintain that surface, you should either re-drill that ball or get rid of it or live with its consequences.

a quick look into scotch brite pads shows they highest grit one being 1200-1500 grit. That isn't too low for touching up a surface after sets?

a quick look into scotch brite pads shows they highest grit one being 1200-1500 grit. That isn't too low for touching up a surface after sets?

If you need a 1200/1500 grit finish, then, no, of course.
If you like these type of non-woven pads, Mirka (maker of Abralon) also makes non-woven pads called Mirka Mirlon Total. They come in 3 grits: 360, 1500 and 2500 grit.
http://www.woodessence.com/Mirka-Mirlon-Total-P86.aspx
They're also available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BKXWLM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2LQE2MVU2HTQ4&coliid=I8GIM17A0T9VE&psc=1

a quick look into scotch brite pads shows they highest grit one being 1200-1500 grit. That isn't too low for touching up a surface after sets?

Different grit ratings can make it confusing.  Check out this link: 

http://home.earthlink.net/~litefrozen/downloads/bowling_grit_chart_v2.pdf

You'll see that the "gold" scotchbrite (my favorite, but hard to find) is rated near abralon 2000 and light gray (check auto store in paint section) at 1500.  These work well with light/medium hand (washing dishes) pressure and a cleaner for me in taking off the lane shine without having to get a spinner or bring it in to the pro shop.

In this discussion, is it a given that the lane surface never changes, and the bowler cannot "adjust"??

A lot of this was based off the fact that a ball surface changes very quickly according to surface scans. And the fact that I frequently see very good scores shot with unmaintained equipment

Don't dismiss how much a THS can mask.......on flat patterns surface prep really is enhanced. 

Ahhh ok. Thank you