Let's see:
2001: Tulane (in its hay-day), Nevada, Utah State, Air Force, Colorado State, Utah
2003: Ga. Tech, Stanford, Air Force, Colorado State, Boise State, Utah
2004: Notre Dame, USC, UNLV, Wyoming, SDSU, New Mexico
2005: Boston College, Eastern Illinois, TCU, CSU, Air Force, Utah
2007: Arizona, Air Force, Eastern Washington, CSU, TCU, Utah
2008: Northern Iowa, UCLA, Wyoming, New Mexico, UNLV, SDSU
2009: (You graciously included this season as a "maybe")
Also, you seem to entirely discount the meaning and excitement of games at the time. It meant a whole lot more to beat a solid New Mexico or CSU or even a down UNLV or SDSU when it meant you were one notch closer to an MWC title or were staying in the race. There's no such meaning with our WAC or Indy opponents.
But by all means, continue to believe that Virginia and a slate of lower-tier FBS and WAC opponents makes a better schedule.