I have gone back and forth with some on the site here about the importance of recruiting.  I am of the opinion that recruiting is like almost everything else in life......its about perspective....when you are in the top 5 you think its much more relevant than when you sit at 36.  Here is an interesting little study on the topic.  

http://sundaymorningqb.com/story/2008/1/21/1614/43228

I think its always interesting conversation.  Down here I can go to the ESPN Zone in Buckhead (where Ray Lewis is no longer welcome :)) on Signing Day and it will be crazy down there.  As I have pointed out in other posts, it appears that if you recruit well, you tend to do well.  If you don't recruit well, that doesn't mean you are done, I would rather take my chances.

The idea that certain schools let anyone in and other schools have much higher academic standards and that is why they don't recruit as well as others seems a bit convenient to me and I don't know how you quantify that anyhow.  I have a buddy whose brother is the OC at a recently promoted to D-1 football program.  That OC has told his brother that every program has a few passes they can hand out when it comes to entrance requirements.