It's the same with the Astros, though they do open it up early in the season. At least twice in this year's playoffs the roof cost the Astros outs on popups that hit the roof. But hey, gotta have that noise because that obviously makes a difference (0-4 at home in the WS).
But I heard the players (Astros) prefer it closed.
As for the Texans, yeah, the stadium concept was flawed from the beginning. I believe the Texans did want it more open, but the rodeo didn't, so they came up with that design. Should have just made it a dome at that point.
I remember the Pittsburgh game where we thought we'd make the Steelers wear black, open the roof in September to have the sun blaring down on them, to gain some advantage. Big fail, of course, but that game was the most miserable I've ever been at any sporting event. You'd burn your arm just putting it on the arm rest. I moved to the south end zone where the sun never shines the following season. That's when they came up with their 80-50 BS that they never seemed to follow from the get go.
Odd that Houston has 2 retractable roof stadiums and in big nationally televised games, our overhead shots of the stadium suck because the damn roofs are closed.
I sorta get it with the Texans for noon games, because even when it's not that hot, the north end zone is looking straight into the sun for most of the game. It is a little difficult to see. But night games, even 3:00 games, the sun isn't an issue at all. No reason to have it closed.
But like someone has said up thread, I don't go to games to look at the sky, I'm there to watch a football game. In baseball though, the roof can actually have an effect on the game.
And the crowd noise thing? I've heard it ear shattering loud with the roof open at NRG before.
BTW, last open roof game at NRG - November 30, 2014.