Since they're not looked at until the final step at AA the value is suspect.

First you have to get selected by the computer. Accepted for, and pass , the online interview. Pass the F2F interview. Then the entire package gets reviewed by the final selection team. That's when the LOR's are reviewed.

There's a suspicion that there some 'top down' selections are being made. All indications are that it's MUCH smaller than it was in the past.