My wife had an uncle who was a biology professor at a non-prestige small college. A wonderful man, full of good cheer and warmth; I bet his first semester students learned more than most kids at prestige schools.
The whole prestige school/research paradigm distorts education and is a disservice to undergraduates.
There are a**holes and good guys in every profession. Academia seems to select for arrogant a**holes, so good guys stand out (not that it necessarily does them any good when a**hole is a job success factor :)