I've always been under the assumption that long-distance pulldowns have been discouraged to new players purely because pulling down a long-distance recruit would be expensive.

Recent recruiting tactics i've taken have led me to suspect otherwise...that perhaps recruits are less likely to consider you as a backup option if you're far away.

Was I correct the first time, or now am I finally getting it?

I think they are generally discouraged due to expense, yes.  However, I do think your logic about distance is somewhat correct.  It really all has to do with him giving you either the word you are a backup for him.  Obviously don't go all in without that info.  But I do agree sometimes recruits who should be "recruitable" based on your prestige simply do not give you that backup email.  Pulling down under 360 miles works really, really well.  However one season I had a ton of conf recruiting cash and pulled down a couple of guys in Oregon (I'm at CSULA, so it was about 600-800 miles).  Worth every penny as they did indeed pan out.  But that is not a great example. 
Or, and I have not really tried this because I'm too impatient, make your sure last guy is considering you, but don't offer the scholly.  Keep an open spot until well after signing and see if you can get the response you want.  I'm typically too impatient!  Long winded answer....yes I agree with you, distance can sometimes affect that whole process.  Good luck.

Unless you're comparing a long distance guy vs. a guy within 70 miles, there is no difference. It's exactly the same trying to pull down a guy at 150 miles as it is at 1,500 miles (other than cost, of course).

there are differences from player to player in what they require to pull down that you might be seeing from longer distance guys that could be randomly of the easier to pull variety that might give a false impression. Other than the built in differences that exist everywhere I agree with girt that I don't think distance itself is a factor (other than the obvious cost issue of course)

I've always been under the assumption that long-distance pulldowns have been discouraged to new players purely because pulling down a long-distance recruit would be expensive.

Yes, that is the primary reason and it is a significant reason. A Scouting Trip for a player 359 miles away costs $297. A Scouting Trip for a player 360 miles away costs $530. It generally takes minimum of 10 ST for a pulldown so for that 1 mile distance the difference is a whopping $2330. At DIII that is ludicrus to even consider and it is an extreme stretch for a DII school.

As far as the player to player differences that dacj501 mentioned, there are a few that immediately come to mind. For example, attempting to pull down a position ranked player vs an unranked player can make a difference. Your team prestige vs the player's expectations is another difference maker. Another difference can be the number of players on the roster at the player's listed position. All of these factors exist regardless of distance as girt25 has previously stated. Now quite often those differences can be overcome with additional STs, but that is why some players take 10 STs and others take 20+.

Glad to see my first sentiment was confirmed. I just seemed like I've had a strangely low % of recruits at a distance vouch as a backup over the years.

recently, with a d2 A+ prestige school, i put 27 evals into a pulldown and didn't even get a considering message. i was 270 miles away. another coach / d2 A+ prestige team was 410 miles away, and pulled down the subject recruit with 10 evals. the latter team pulldown happened in the same cycle as my evals, 25, 26 and 27 were being processed. the 2nd coach is reliable enough that if he says he put in only 10 evals, i trust it. don't know how anyone can explain that. 

factors such as desire to play near/far from home, his A+ may be higher than your A+, and I believe that if multiple teams are pulling at once someone suffers, and its probably the team with more disadvantages. Did he send all 10 at once do you know? 

dac - just saw your follow up. don't know but i'll ask the coach if he remembers...

Recruiting History
Date Description Cost
6/17/2013 inform recruit of redshirt plans $10
6/17/2013 campus visit $1,289
6/17/2013 home visit $766
6/17/2013 campus visit $1,289
6/17/2013 campus visit $1,289
6/16/2013 scholarship offer $100
6/16/2013 scouting trips - (10) $5,490
6/16/2013 call current coach $10
Total $10,243