Academy player generation has always been borked for the majority while not so bad for the minority. The high T + 'no cash' price is not comparable with market costs given the 1* difference. Even if there was a 1* increase in quailty across the board the advantage might still be marginal, if any.
The new player recommendations exposes this even more - the academy should be generating players relatively equivalent to those youngsters appearing on the Recommended list, if not instead of or in addition too. eg Think how much resource and time it would take to produce an 18yo 6* player with second role and SA from a 24T near 5* academy typethen compare.
However I do get the feeling that once Nordeus see how the Recommended Players system works they will turn their attention to the Academy. *hopes*
It needs an overhaul in the context of other sources of players rather than just a tweak.