For two cadets similarly situated, flight hours shouldn't be the make or break. Especially with a "97pt, 3.9, and top RSS".

The Air Force has a righteous incentive to pick people with higher PCSM (it's right in the name), and there's an obvious reason people with flight hours generally have a higher PCSM.

Selects with a 26-50 PCSM have a 70% UPT graduation rate. 76-99 PCSM? 92% graduation rate.

Out of 250 people that 30% is ~75 selects. That's a lot of money and effort to waste.

The biggest impact you can have on your PCSM is RSS, followed by AFOQT, GPA, PFA, TBAS, and flight hours. The super majority of your OM and PCSM aren't dependent on your ability to pay for flight hours.