Regular ranking in the top 25 feels nice. A top 10 finish feels nice, banner or not. Special seasons >>>> conference championships in terms of how excited they make me feel. A 7-6 unranked conference champion doesn't do much for me. A 10-3 #15 team leaves me warm and fuzzy at the end of the year.
Concerns over independence evaporate if we start finishing the season ranked on a regular basis.