Ben,
Interesting question.
For me, I don't think it would have made a huge difference, but maybe. While my mentors focused on the local remodel market, I was intent on doing new courses everywhere. Not to mention, I always felt a bit of anti-northerner Texas attitude that kept me from marketing really heavy in my adopted home town. I might have done more local projects in another city.
I have given some thought as to how the dearth of classic courses in Texas may have affected my design attitudes. Again, my mentors had little regard for the oldies anyway, and when I moved to Dallas it was all about making it Big D, a modern city, little looking back. It might have affected me somewhat, but I have never really thought so.
As to results, I always wanted to be the next Ralph Plummer in Dallas, and have managed about 15 major projects here, so I got part way there, but again, never wanted to be exclusive to my region, either, and always went where work took me. However, my projects with Larry Nelson were probably a result of being in Dallas - his agent was here and (back in those days) wanted to call an architect for Larry to pair with, but didn't want to waste a long distance call, or a trip to meet in person, so he called me. So, being where you are does have some effect!
I guess its the old pebble in the ocean thing, it probably had some effect.