@originalposter1 No discouragement at all, this is exactly the type of information I was hoping to get. I’m leaning RD myself, but my application won’t be getting any stronger (probably), and I think we all know how ND says “apply when your app is strongest”, which made me pose this question.
I agree with you as well, that having no hooks sucks (Thanks Mom and Dad! :P), and that my EC’s and class rigor will have to carry the weight of my app. Thanks for the info!