I'm not going to be baited into writing a lengthy exposition as to why you're wrong here--the better job I do, the more I trash the school we both love--and I agree that WSU is a great school with a lot to sell. The unique nature of the college town atmosphere can be a selling point.
That said, decades of recruiting cut against your argument, as would any kind of survey of recruitable athletes. The thoughts and preferences of recruitable athletes in 2016 are the relevant matters, not what you or I think or prefer.
There also is very little talent in WSU's "natural" recruiting area, which is a related but distinct issue.
Wilner was on Twitter a couple weeks ago, speaking about RichRod in Tucson, saying that A-level coaches become B-level coaches when they have to get on a plane to bring in their recruiting classes. Well, if that's true in Tucson, it sure is in Pullman. That's just one guy's opinion, but it seems to reflect prevailing sentiment.
Like you, though, I hope WSU's staff can go out there, figure out which kids (and which kids' parents, as that also is relevant) prefer a real college town and safe environment, and load up on as many of them as possible.
As a bottom line, you're somewhat out there if you want to say Pullman presents zero disadvantages, but I'm all for pushing staffs to recruit very good talent to WSU notwithstanding the circumstances.