What you say is true. But the fact is, BYU is in a better place than either it or Utah ever was prior to September of 2011. Independence is, so far, the best move BYU football has ever made.
IMO, it's only the comparison to what Utah was gifted when they were invited to the PAC-12 that contributes to the penchant that some BYU fans have to see our position as undesirable. I'm not saying that's necessarily you.