“Yes, it might affect non-financial need, merit-based aid some places, if you don’t NEED fianancial aid but would appreciate some merit money.”
Do I really “need” my second kidney? Or do I just “appreciate” having it?
There’s plenty of families whose “need” and actual ability to pay are two totally different things. For those families, merit money and/or a better aid package is a “gotta have”, not a “nice to have.”