We all know it's hard to win in the SEC, but is it easier to be "good"?

All this talk about the recruiting advantages of being in the SEC got me thinking. I saw over on the Mizzou board they were talking about getting 4 and 5* which will frankly just never happen outside of a couple 4* (which every team in the SEC has). Is it still a recruiting advantage if said team struggles to win 4,5,6 games their first few years? Or is a disadvantage? Basically it's a matter of chicken or the egg IMO. I think all things considered, Mizzou and A&M don't gain much as far as recruiting from their move to the SEC.