1) "the players and their families/friends/handlers who are in a position to benefit", uh, yep, I'm clearly on the side of the players. You can insert "handlers" or "boosters" with players if you want in an attempt to include some sort of negative connotation with "players", but boosters have been around and playing this game for a long time, long before NIL ever existed, so whatever. The players, yep that's the side I'm on. Pay them all what they deserve since they're the ones making BILLIONS for the colleges, networks, and entire football/basketball system.
2) Hey, I just checked history and guess what...free agency has benefited NFL players, so FYI.
3) NIL has nothing to do with whether or not VT can compete with big boys. $$$$ is the only thing that matters. Those who have it (SEC, Big10) and those who don't. If SEC/Big10 have more, then those "schools whose resources and boosters can overpower the competition to win this arms race" as you so succinctly put it, will continue to do it - just like they have been doing for DECADES. Maybe you could study up on the history of the last few decades because you actually just made my point. People who blame NIL as being what's wrong or bad with college sports is just so laughable to me, as if NIL will suddenly make Alabama or OSU start to dominate everyone. HA!