You're right about culture, but you're dreaming if you think that model wins at the highest level now. The portal is the new reality, and programs that ignore it get left behind. Eastern Washington's system works in the Big Sky, but it has a ceiling. The top teams are using the portal to patch holes and get immediate impact players. It's about blending development with strategic portal adds, not choosing one over the other. Your way builds consistency, but the best teams today are built to win right now.