A shrinking group in the inter-mountain west region, and BYU fans that are still remembering the glory of 2011 (and it WAS glorious) are pretty much the only people I know of who think the MWC is, or ever was, a really good basketball conference. It had some great regular seasons, but outside of 2011 and Jimmermania, it just can't get it done in the postseason. I don't know anybody on either coast, that doesn't already have a predisposition, that thinks the MWC is a good league.
Why would they? They don't see the games, and its teams don't do a thing in the post-season.
Recruits would be more likely to want to play on ESPN against Gonzaga, if only 2-3 times a season, than they would be to play on CBS Sports against SDSU as their premier league game. As far as seeing a difference between playing LMU or San Jose State....well, I don't think they care much. But if I had to choose, LMU gets the nod. At least they have SOME history to point to. Unlike Air Force, Boise State, or San Jose State, none of which have ever won an NCAA tournament game.