Let's consider it a sales job. Let's say I make $1000 on every sale. Right now my company gives me 70,000 sales a year, so I make $70 million. 6000 of those sales come from one company, Company E, and most of the rest come from individuals. Now a new company comes to me and says "displacedute, we want you to give up your contract with Company E and we'll give you 3000 sales, but we'll also give you a much better chance at one of 12 prestigious 'super salesman' awards that are given out every year. You'd get to put that on your business card, website, letterhead, etc., and everyone you talk to would know that you won the award. This will probably lead to increased future sales from individuals." Do I take that deal? If I believe that I can win that award every couple of years? Absolutely. If I don't think I'll ever win that award? Probably not.

In this case, if BYU goes to the Fiesta or Peach or Cotton Bowl (and especially if they win it), ticket sales and donations will go way up, ESPN coverage will increase, more people will talk about BYU, etc. Now if you don't think BYU has any chance of getting to a NY6 game, much less winning, then independence is the best place for you. But if you want to be on that stage and winning that game, then the MWC gives you a much better chance. Again, if I was BYU, I'd go to the MWC, even if I have to swallow my pride. But I get the impression the BYU AD thinks like you, for which I'm grateful.