BrownFlower

You're completely right. They also have the most funding opportunities, that are stable for graduate students Hard work or original ideas doesn't always equal success, because it's all about being seen and the perceived usefulness of youre research.
 
My advisor, that had the same trouble as me getting into a program out of undergraduate (she got her masters from the same place she's sending me too before she got into University of Iowa for PhD) said that if you aren't sure you'll get into a top school or at least the second tier, make sure you orientate yourself to be a great asset to a teaching school. if you can secure a diverse teaching role, it's easier to push into a tenure track, even if at a satellite campus.

I disagree.  Ranking should play a significant role in your decision making process in those cases where you are choosing between schools that are ranked significantly different.  For example, I wouldn't recommend going to a school that is traditionally ranked in the last couple of schools ( i.e. you should not go to south central louisiana tech) if you have an acceptance from another school that is ranked higher.  The exception might be if the school is "known" for a certain sub-area that you're super interested in (i.e. you know you will be doing that sub-area.)  However, most people change their interests during graduate school, so even in that case it seems problematic.  The reality is that prestige does matter to a lot of potential employers.  In some disciplines more than 50% of the tenure track jobs go to graduate of only 5 schools.  

Dude I totally feel you.