A similar question was discussed in
this thread; more specifically on FIRST mentioning various prestigious colleges being interested in Dean's List Finalists, but I think in some ways it applies to your question/topic too.
In my opinion, simply saying you were involved in your FIRST team on a college application means absolutely nothing/is just another bullet point to admissions counselors. What matters is what you do with your FIRST experience to "boost" your college application. Do you have strong recommendations from your FIRST mentors and teachers? Do you "sell" the value of your FIRST experience well in your interview with a college? It's these things that matter; anyone can say they were involved with a FIRST team, and college applications (aside from essays and recommendations and all that stuff) don't offer a direct means to 'sell' FIRST. You have to find ways to show the value you gained in FIRST.
So yes, FIRST is, in some ways, becoming more "pedestrian" on college apps, but in my opinion, that's perfectly fine. It matters when you can use your experiences in order to better sell yourself to the college.
*I use the term 'sell' a lot, because that's basically what a college application is: you trying to market yourself to that college or university