So why isn't Conf strength like this? You can be Very Good on conf strength in D3.

I don't know, maybe it should. Would it make gameplay better? I suspect that preference was added as a carrot to the people who were concerned that their super-conferences would break up, and that 3.0 would dis-incentivize coaching in competitive conferences.

I personally don't think it should. Why does it all have to be so complicated? You play D3. You are recruiting players to come play D3 ball. Do they want to play in a good D3 conference or not. Do you want to play for a good D3 team or a team that might be improving towards the future. Seems straightforward and simple to me.

Just link Team Success to prestige.

A+ = VG
A-/A= Good
B-/B/B+= Neutral
C-/C/C+= Bad
D-/D/D+= VB

Easy peasy.