Do numbers matter?

I got an e-mail today talking about Hall of Fame numbers and why things are different today then they were "back then" and it got me thinking. One of my main Hall of Fame issues that I am passionate about is Jim Rice's induction or lack there of into baseball's HoF. Rice has always stated that to this day, if he gets in great, if not no biggie. He's a believer in letting the numbers do the talking. Looking at his numbers and the time he played, I think his numbers are very HoF suitable. For 11 seasons (75-86) Rice was the most dominant and feared hitter in baseball. In that span he was Al MVP in 1978 with a monster season: .315, 46 hr's and 139 rbi's and finished in the top 10 of the MVP voting 6 times, placing no lower than 5th. His career slugging percentage is .502 which puts him 85th all time and his career home runs and rbi place him 48th all time. I won't break down all the numbers because that will get old and you can check the link to get everything.
My point is, the game has changed. Whether it's juiced balls, rarified air, juiced players, expansion or waterdown pitching (all of which I think are to blame), the numbers have been greatly inflated. Guys who used to hit between 17-25 homers are now blasting 38-45 homers. The spike in Barry Bonds' numbers, not mention weight, have increased since he moved to San Fran, which is when this whole steriod thing came up. and it's not just him. Todd Helton comes out of nowhere and starts pounding the ball. Is it easier with the air quality in Colorado for 81 games a year? I don't know, I just ask the questions. Brady Anderson hasa career year and then dissappers. The Detriot Tigers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays have probably a combined 5 pitchers worthy of noting on their combined staffs.
The point is, the game has changed. Dramatically. With each passing season, numbers that were considered impossible to reach are being destroyed. That puts guys like Rice in no man's land when it comes to the Hall. I will say this. He has gotten boned on the ballot due to the timing of the end of his career. Nolan Ryan, Robin Yount, Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Carlton Fisk, etc. have gone on the ballot and his numbers don't compare. Many due to the length of some questionable careers (Eddie Murray retiring at age 200 with 12,000 seasons of DH under his belt). Whether it's lack of knowledge by the player, relations with the writers (which I don't buy because the local writers vote for Rice, whom he was not friendly with) or the squeing of numbers due to the change int he game, the HoF voting should change with the times. If a guy like Fred McGriff or even a star like the andro-fueled mark McGwire can make The Hall on their time and career numbers, guys like Rice should as well. If the rules (or lack there of) ans way the game is played have chnged, then so should the voting.
In the grand scheme of things, this matters not to the person at home. But purists and people who love the game for what it was and what it is, this is an issue. The greatest sports Hall of Fame will be loading itself with cheaters in the next 10-12 years and guys who did it by hard work and talent will sit on the outside because they chose to life weights and work hard as opposed to cramming needles in their asses. It's a shame.