Do you have any idea how many white (and asian) students who have less DO get accepted?
It is not a matter of objective criteria.
Objective criteria get students past the first cut. It essentially is their ticket for consideration, not admission.
Holistic admission is determined by human beings based on subjective impressions in combination with objective factors.
I think LOR’s are huge, but most students seem to happily sign away their rights to even see or review such letters.
Essays are important too … but I think many fail to understand the purpose and goal of the essay.