A point-to-point course starts in one location and finishes in a different one, rather than looping back to the start. It often allows for a net downhill or scenic route that wouldn't be possible with a loop. Runners usually need to arrange transport to the start, since it's a separate location from the finish.
It's a route where the start and finish are in two different locations, unlike a loop or out-and-back course that returns to the same spot. Boston Marathon is a well-known example.
Most races run shuttle buses from the finish area or a central point to the start line. It's worth checking the transport schedule closely, since these starts often require an early departure.
They can be, especially if the route has a net downhill or avoids doubling back over the same climbs. Course difficulty still depends on the specific terrain, not just the format.
Getting to the start can be a logistical hassle, and you can't easily leave a bag at your car since you finish somewhere else. Bag drop trucks solve most of this by relocating to the finish.
An out-and-back course retraces the same road back to where it started. A point-to-point course keeps moving forward the whole way and ends somewhere entirely different.