@ivvcfs - of course they want all these applications. Rankings are in part fueled by admission %. Everyone loves to be at the lower end of admission percentage. UCLA led every recent press release with “over 100,000 applications this year…” College (and the public) clearly see it as a sign of prestige.
When Harvard lowered their tuition a few years ago, the application # dropped - so they promptly raised tuition and increased financial aid levels.
No school wants less applications. They fuel the fire. Things like “Common App” and “holistic” admission add to it, as has the internationalization of US education.
Just look at articles on the ivies admissions. They almost always include admission %. Columbia’s presentation last year led with that. Michigan mentioned the “record # of applicants this year” as did USC.
Schools might prefer not to read them, but they are happy to log them in as “received.”