Good points fatty, and there is a good post on Wabash about the NIT. Lower Tier bowls do give you more for you bang for your buck than the NIT, no doubt.
However, I do think the NIT, especially after our long dry spell, is a lot better than nothing. I could care less of where it will fit in the outlook of Wooldridge's 6 years here, I want the NIT for the program (any kind of momentum is good at this point) and for the kids who have worked their tails off, and for us fans who have haven't tasted it since Billy Ball made its final appearance in Manhattan.
I don't mind given Wooly another 10K (or more) for that.
