Fall results do matter. Kinda.
I think it's notIntelligent, but Fall results play a very large part to determine what HoCo division teams play in the spring.
And what others said about the benfit of playing elite teams for ranking points is accurate.
Many ranking are based off of the old lax power method. First teams are generally slotted, based on their past division, then once results come pouring in, teams become entrenched with a few wins (or losses) to those "Elite" teams. But those wins and losses are weighted- even early in the season. Before the true worth of an opponent is known. The ranking formula also doesn't allow teams to drop below (or above) certain thresholds if they are Elite, AAA, AA etc. Essentially you won't find the worst Elite team below the top 15%. AND you wont find the best B-level team above the top 50%. No matter who they play or what the results are.