I'm also disappointed in the lack of respect for the SoCon from media in recent years, but I understand it. We just have to prove it on the field against "big 3" opponents.
And I'll take up for Hero Sports- Brian Mac has been singing our praises since the off season and voted us #5 in his personal ballot this week. Brian grew up in Greenville in the hey day of SoCon dominance and has Furman alum in the family. He does a great job of being impartial IMO.
As to the STATS poll, there are many voters who don't do the research that Brian and Sam at Herosports do, and the ones whose teams don't have a stake in the postseason (MEAC, IVY, etc) don't care the effect it may have on playoff seeding. That is as much the problem as bias from CAA, MVFC, etc.