i know what you mean about everything being just a number at this point. if i make an A in the class (still possible), they'll look at it as passing the class with a good grade. if i make a B in the class, it might not look especially great, but they'll still just see it as having passed the class with a decent grade.
i'm already making preparations to re-apply next year because my application just doesnt have that many standout features. i graduated about a year ago from the local university (not regionally known), have been working in a non-healthcare job, 3.55 - 3.6 GPA, got some research experience in college, etc. so other than my GRE quant score and low physics grade, i'm not really a "bad" applicant, just an unremarkable one.
in other words, you could probably say i'm what would have been an "average" applicant three or four years ago before it got supercompetitive, but i don't have much to make me stand out from the current crop of highly competitive and accomplished applicants. seems like interviews used to be granted on the basis of having decent numbers and a good personal statement, but regardless of how things used to be, i can see that the current generation of applicants is definitely a much more competitive breed than those in the "old days" (e.g., 3 - 5 years ago)