I agree with your initial premise to a point. PC's administration bought into the "stepping-stone" mentality. Whenever a coach came in that worked, say Pitino or Barnes, it was assumed that they were going to walk when the time came. Then they got coaches like Welsh, who would flash some brillance but was a nut, or Keno who couldn't do anything. PC got some good recruiting classes, they got some good recruits, they just never had the constant ability to string together success. Things are different now though, they have invested in athletes and in coaching. I think things are moving in the right direction (two good recruiting classes and a good transfer team), but it will take a few years to know if we really have a gem.
And while I agree history means something, it doesn't mean everything. Recruits might have laughed because while UCONN was winning NC's, PC was posting 4-14 BE seasons. Things are different now. Players want two things:
1 - To play for a winner
2 - To play against the best
And maybe you will go for #4 next year, and maybe you won't. But what will really hurt is not having a conference home, and having a terrible TV contract. That is more of what I am referring to by being in a better position. Stability means a lot to recruits.
And after posting back-to-back better recruiting classes then the Huskies, the distance between PC and UCONN might not be as great as you think.
First, PC's back-to-back recruiting classes were highly based on Ledo. If he never plays, does that count? Seriously? Taking him out of the equation and last year was pretty even. This year, well, PC currently has the higher ranked player, but it's not done yet. Also, we have been through this before with PC beating UConn out for Coleman and UConn ending up with some schlub called Lamb. Rankings are nice and all, but they aren't the end-all-be-all.
Second, Cooley is a good coach and a hard worker on the recruiting trails. If he stays at PC, they have a good one, one they aren't likely to do better than. I think Ollie is better, but recognize that is currently only opinion. It does say something that Ollie (if eligible) has UConn in a place where they would be a 6-7 seed right now and Cooley has PC not even on the bubble.
Third, sure the past doesn't predict the future but you are ignoring two important things: 1) Ollie has his contract, no more going down the road of "not knowing who your coach is if you go to UConn" recruiting that happened this past year. Cooley did a great job of it with Austin. 2) 2014 or 2015 UConn has fantastic new practice facilities being built. UConn football already has some of the best in the country, soon UConn basketball will also.
Fourth, tell me how many times you have watched (soon to be) #1 Gonzaga on TV this year? Did their miniscule TV slate/contract and horrible conference hurt them at all this year or the past 15 when they have dominated PC in NCAAT appearances, wins, seeding, etc. (despite PC being in a top 2 conference with tons of exposure every year)? NCAA basketball is 1000% more about the coaching than the conference/TV/etc. This has been shown multiple times in the past. If you can get a loyal coach who is also very good, the rest will fall into place. Though some few are still only 5 toes in with Ollie, I'm 10 toes in. Football is a different animal.