recs

They don't hurt. Tech is not the ultra competitive SEC environment where you have to have a rec to even be invited back. If a house wants you and likes you, you'll be invited back (in my experience). That being said, they can help you stand out from the 500 other PNMs rushing, it lets the chapter know about you beforehand. Recs can detail legacy status, or familial greek affiliations, but it can also detail if you had an illness and your grades for a semester were much lower than acceptable.

TLDR: They help you stand out

I'd say with recruitment getting increasingly competitive every year, I would suggest getting recommendations. That being said, Tech isn't crazy competitive. You just never know because every year it takes a step up.