So does this new rule now lessen the importance of overpriced clubs that hype college contacts and early "looks" before high school?

No official direct recruiting contact September 1 or Junior year.

This rule promotes players (and parents) to mature prior to making a decision where they are going to spend the next 4 years. I guess it also stops overbearing parents from focusing on early "verbal" commitments rather then the correct commitment. Now they have to wait a little while to buy the sweatshirt.

Since this rule is applied to everyone why is it a bad thing?