comparison. Conference affiliation would let BYU ease into a season instead of getting beat up. Conference affiliation means you get good home games every other year instead of making scheduling concessions.
Conference affiliation makes it easier to get to the ultimate goal.
Aside from the playoff bowls (and the payoff for a NY6 bowl), the bowl doesn't matter at all.
The reality is Utah is going to have more "bowl options" at the end of the year, but who cares as between the bowl options that they'll have.
What I miss is being in a conference.