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.