What's more prestigious?
Winning 9 games as an Independent, avoiding the G5 label, and playing 6 P5s every year, OR
Winning 10 or 11 games, playing for a conference title annually, and making a NY6 game 2 or 3 times every 10 years
There are merits to both. But if the money isn't significantly better, its hard to argue that Indy wins that argument easily.