There you have it. Being well-qualifed, and a good fit for the chapter is much more important than the number of references. That, I believe is pretty much true across the board for all chapters everywhere. Again, this is from my experience as someone who serves on a reference board in a state where references are key. It is not the number of references but the qualifications of the PNM.

Everything is bigger in Texas. Y'all should know that by now! :D

Recs were not very common at my school. When we'd get them for women (besides legacies, of course), the PNMs were almost always from Texas (a very small minority of the school)... and sometimes we'd get them in June before school even let out!