Considering how penurious the LDS church and BYU both tend to be, I think they show a real financial commitment to football. The committed to paying athletes very early after the rules changed and stepped up with a generous number. We aren't paying SEC or top-of-the PAC 12 money to coaches, but I think that reflects a limitation of resources more than a lack of commitment.
I do agree that independence is not working out like all had hoped. I also suspect we had a shot at a major conference and demanded too much. I don't however see us being ND State or even Princeton.