Well, 3.0 is the reason. For all the questions really.
For example for what it took for me to get to Big6 -
Rupp : 6 seasons at University of NH. 3 1st round NT's, 1 PI3, 125 wins (20.8 wins/season) went from D to B-. Got me to Michigan, not elite, but have chosen to stay here vs move to A prestige teams
Smith: 9 seasons at University of NH. 4 1st round NT's, 1 PI1, 173 wins (19.2 wins/season) went from D- to B-. Got me to Georgia, at that point couldn't get into higher Big 6 teams, no openings.
Crum: 5 seasons at Harvard. 2 1st round NT's, 2 2nd round NT's, 99 wins (19.8 wins/season) went from D to B-. Got me to Cincinnati, my first (and currently only) A+ baseline prestige team.
Baylor: 11 seasons at D2 W Alabama. 4 1st round NT's, 3 2nd round NT's, S16, E8, NT runner up, 1 PI1. 241 wins (21.9 wins/season) went from B- to A. Got me to Baylor, where I got my brains beat in. Should have stayed in Heartland D2.
Low D1 was always a grind, but a very good 4-5 years (and an available open Big6 team) can get you moved up. Elite programs were always at the whim of openings, which there's obviously more of now. Sweet spot is getting to B- or higher with some 2nd round plus NT's. Of course that means taking over a Big6 rebuild. I've not seen anyone move to a current A or higher elite team unless they moved from a current A or higher Big6 team.
I was drawn to D1 for more money for recruiting (largely removed now, you can recruit effectively at D2 better now I think than before) and knowing the actual schools. I think it will shake out over the course of the next 3-4 seasons, but it's the same answer it's always been - win and win in the NT.