What appears to be changing more so in recent time with many recruits (especially the more touted) is their growing emphasis on a program's short term trending pattern. Maybe less so with the elite programs as they have established a pattern of strong long term performance and can normally withstand a hiccup year with recruits but not so much with the Iowa's of the world. Some recruits change their mind now based on a single season's outlook with a program. The college sport itself has fueled some of this as well with programs moving coaches in and out more frequently......produce now or be gone. So recruits have to be asking themselves how long the current staff will stay intact as well. Can't rule out the role media plays in fueling this shorter term thinking as well.
In my opinion there was generally more patience exhibited by recruits in the past.