James Madison isn't going to win the Director's Cup. James Madison isn't going to finish in the top 30. It's teams from the Power 5 Conferences filling the top 10 of the Director's Cup each year just like they fill the BCS Bowls.
You're focusing on details where I was speaking hyperbolically (is that a word? SP?) to make a general point that the message of collegiate athletics is being lost, and the DC is an inadequate vessel, particularly in face of media behemoth that is ESPN.
My comments about the Capital One Cup are based on where they weight the sports. Who in their infinite wisdom decided that winning the Track & Field Championship is worth tripple than winning Men's Ice Hockey? And why is Track & Field triple to Swimming? or Tennis? There should not be weighting arbitrarily decided by someone at ESPN trying to prop up the SEC. The General Public will probably fall for it due to the media influence ESPN has and general lack of awareness on the scoring by that unwashed mass you cite. But the Learfield Sports Director's Cup is the better measure and the more accurate measure.
I don't disagree with anything you say here, but I think again you miss the larger point. Quibbling over which cup weighted which sport to which degree becomes meaningless if NOBODY cares. ESPN is telling people what to care about, and traditional college athletics is being swallowed up in the process.
There are athletic departments in the SEC that have the ability to compete straight up with the schools in the NCAA that sponsor a larger sports portfolio. It's the same with the Big XII. The Big XII is one of the best Wrestling Conferences. What the heck is Texas, who is the richest athletic department overall, doing without a team? or without a Men's Soccer Team?
If they're in compliance with conference and NCAA rules, why do you care? The school has the right to field those teams that they deem support the interests and goals of the athletic department and the mission of the university at large.
I understand that football has its role, and that is fine. It is driving the recent conference realigment. I also think that in judging a NCAA athletic department, there are other measures beyond football that are important. When the ACC decides to add another member, I want them to bring in a good athletic department rather than a good football team. If both can be accomplished, that's all the better.