We must recruit nationally. Guess what? Kids want to play near home once in a while. We took 5 recruits from California this year alone and they'll get a game each year, be it Stanford or USC, where they get to play near home with their family and friends able to go. We play all through the northeast and talent rich old south with our 6 games against ACC teams. We used to play in Texas, which was a good way to offer recruits an opportunity there. We take care of the midwestern states (Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, etc...) due to Notre Dame's location.
Playing the independent schedule across the nation allows our recruiting prospects from all over the country the opportunity to see us and come watch us play and gives them the benefit should they pick Notre Dame to play in front of their friends and family near home.
I actually think the 6-game ACC setup along with the wide geographic nature of our independent schedule is ingenious recruiting-wise and necessary if we are to reach the greatest heights we can from a recruiting perspective.