It seems like the conversation over here is more towards the "Don't Bother" side than over there.
And just for the record, I'm one of those parents that spends a lot of time at CC talking about my kid and the Academy. I have no excuse except that since my kid has to do all the work herself it's one of my only ways to be involved. It's kind of a hobby, like Air Warriors for someone who was never in the Navy.