1.) Utah blew up the original Pac-12 deal. The original deal was probably around the BIG 12 deal give or take. Utah came in and said that they're worth 50M+ like the B1G even without UCLA/USC in the picture. So unless there's anything contrary to the reports. Utah doesn't really know what they're worth.
I do differentiate between online Ute fans vs in-person. Online Ute fans are pretty awful, and nobody likes them. Yeah sure you can say its a "few" but it awfully seems like there are a lot. Every BIG 12 group I've seen has grown a distaste for online Ute fans.
2.) According to reports the main reason why Utah got pulled into the Big-12 was due to the pulling factor of the Arizona's. But I do agree that you guys "might" have been able to get into the ACC pretty easily.
In all honesty though these are just second hand reports, but nobody would be surprised if its true. But I think you're under playing how awful online Ute fans are really.