PR aspect is definitely over-rated. Wel atleast it seemed that way last year.
The PR aspects have definitely decided a couple of CB Draft championships. The ability to debate, promote your team's strengths, overcome the weaknesses that are presented against it and do so in a manner that doesn't offend voters against your team, is very big in the CB Draft.
Basically, Lebron couldn't win a CB Draft title until he won it in real life because of his public image and a bias against him on Celticsblog. It didn't matter who surrounded him. Kobe, will probably never win a CB Draft title, again because of bias and opinion of him here at CB. There are definitely biases for and against certain NBA players and because of that PR is supremely important. You have to get or avoid getting those players with positive and negative biases for and against them or build a team with other players and convince the board they can beat the best of the best.
Also, as GMs have played over and over again, they have become smarter and more experienced and so the teams have started to reach a level of parity and sometimes the difference is the PR done by the GMs. Its why Roy and IP are so good at the CB Draft. Besides being awesome negotiators when it comes to trade, they are PR masters at this game. Its why Roy has won his titles and why IP is constantly in the title game.
Debate friendly and effectively and PR your team's strengths while advocating against your teams weaknesses and against those you see as "the competition" and long term(over weeks) it definitely has an effect and it shows in the voting.