definitely in the beginning people can have an off entry and still make it through because of their friends list or because people are voting for them knowing how good other of their entries are.

However later on it makes less of a difference. Also keep in mind it's all relative, what you think is great, other people might not relate to. I know it's been mentioned that being way out in front can put a target on your back, but that doesn't mean that people want to take out good players. What I think happens, is people see someone way out there in votes and week after week think, "How did they get so many votes? They don't deserve it." And often those people get voted out late in the game during a closed contestant only vote or a gatekeeper vote.