One of the things I really like about Goju and Uechi karate is that they have preserved the kata based partner drills. In a lot of Shuri or Tomari based systems, these drills have been forgotten, not been taught, and/or replaced with something else entirely.
The concept of ippon kumite is Japanese and was meant to recreate the zen like austerity of two person kendo kata within karate. Real karate drills have flow and direct applicability. I would love to see peoples ideas in regards to Passai Kata, Naihanchi, and/or Kushanku.