Yes it is easier to build to a certain level in a empty conference. However that strong conference preference seems to have quite the kick. Battling other schools for the elite players who have that preference has been terrible for me.
Also I like fuller conferences to chat a bit and get a better evaluation of my team. Crushing Sims all season long gets me to the tourney easy enough but it doesn't help me with that next step that I want (the National Championship). Historically if my conference has 3 or less humans I go down earlier in the NT.