Agree with grevar.
I don't think any of us thinks come IDay, having an LOA means anything. However tomorrow or the next day or any day between now and IDay, getting the LOA would be incredible peace of mind knowing what you are doing come this summer. My DS does not think an LOA is a license to slack off, if anything it removes a huge stressor and will allow him to continue on the path he's set to this point and have a great year. It would also free up a ton of time and money in that you could finish up plans B and C but not work on plans D, E and F, one more ACT or SAT test, application fees or college visits.
"Strive for the maxes, aim for the best, be team captain/president/leader." These are the things we have learned long ago are the things that hopefully will set him up for success. For my DS, an LOA is just one of those "maxes" he is striving for.
The parents and students who live and breathe for all the information gleaned from SAF are more informed than most and so probably "tend" to be a little obsessive, but I think that is the nature of the internet....ask any physician how annoying it is to have a patient's first words be "I read on the internet...."