It has undisputably improved the quality of the bucks we see harvested.
But there is no evidence that it improved the quality of the 2.5+ bucks in the herd.
It's also been pretty well proven by extensive research that young bucks with smaller antlers are not inferior genetically but it's more likely that they were born later in their first year than the better racked young bucks
It has not been proven that 1.5 spike bucks are not inferior for the rate of antler development.All of the studies show that the average spike develops much slower in both body weight and antler development that the average 1.5 6 or 8 pt. and that is a very important point when so few of ur buck live to become 3.5 or 4.5 buck.
The best thing to come from AR was to start a change in the mindset of the average PA hunter. More and more hunters are drifting away from that idea of shooting the first thing with a bone on it's head to being willing to kick it up a notch.
There is no evidence to support that claim. Hunters are still shooting broken rack 3 pts. and scrub racked 1.5, 4 or 5 pts. and the average buck harvested still only has 7 points.