From my experience most lower grade granite routes were put up with minimal bolts not because the first climbers wanted to create a bold low grade headspace route, but because they didn't have the time, energy or finances to bolt the route like the ones at their limits.
Despite the number of times Chockstone has discussed the lack of bolts on low grade granite routes, it never ceases to amaze me how many times far stronger climbers rant about how easy it was for them to climb and argue not to reduce a climb to the lowest common denominator.
And yet as the grades creep upwards so do the number of bolts per route. Hypocrisy.