Palin is a media magnet and in this day in age where all media is instant and the conservative media is coming of age, she can have a far greater and continuing influence than Schlafly should she decide not to run.
Look at the influence Rush has had and he hasn't run for anything.
She wasn’t a big media magnet, tucked away in Alaska, before McCain picked her. Some, including some here (IIRC some Freepers were pushing her 6 months earlier), spotted her potential, but without the desire and opportunity to do something it was just potential. She’s a media magnet as long as the media thinks/fears she’ll take it to the next level, no longer. Once they’re sure she won’t/can’t hurt them they’ll either try to ignore her as yesterday’s news, or cover her like Lindsay Lohan’s mom, as a trash celebrity.