I sympathize with the OP on the problem of long distances between gates. It's frustrating when you have to literally run to make a connection after your incoming flight arrives late. But, in my experience, that happens infrequently enough.

Now, consider the upside of all that space: There are plenty of gates (so passengers on later flights are seldom crowding into your area), plenty of seats at the gates, and plenty of room for dining and shops. Also, the walkways are very wide, so even when a lot of people are passing through the terminal it doesn't feel like such a human obstacle course.

Question to the OP: what hub(s) do you like so much better than DEN? I like DEN the best among UA hubs. (SFO might be nicer than DEN, but I've never experienced it as a hub since I live nearby.) I also like DEN over DFW, PHX, LAS, and EWR. The only domestic hub I'd rank ahead of DEN is MSP.