You are looking at it backward. The fact that the boosters can buy Riley out of his contracts isn't the issue. Recruits and parents understand that. It isn't because having the contract for the 5 years adds comfort, it's that a contract less than 5 years adds to the discomfort.
No one is taking advantage of you. No one is forcing you to support the team. Lastly, paying Riley or any other coach $3 million a year more isn't going to break the bank when you will be bringing in an additional $20-30 million a year.
What Nebraska fan needs to realize is that this job isn't as attractive to an outsider anymore. 20 years ago, Nebraska was a more attractive job than Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU, Oregon, Stanford, etc etc etc. Now it isn't.
Nebraska has shot itself in the foot with how it fired coaches, who they hired to replace those fired coaches, going all the way back to 1997. Coaches aren't busting their ass to go to a school that currently believes they are more than they are. Stud coaches aren't going to give up their $4 million a year job at stable U to take over a program that is on their 4th coach in 13 years, where the last 3 coaches won at least one division title. Unrealistic expectations of the fan base and those in charge will push quality candidates away. Believe it or not. The fact that the last 3 coaching searches had names like Bob Davie, Dave Wannstedt, Houston Nutt, Jim Grobe, Turner Gill, Bill Callahan and Bo Pelini tells you all you need to know.