I have to admit that in my time at Kent (1998-2002) I did not especially
feel the college system - other than the location of some accomodation
(which was not used by all and in any case I understand this has since been
decoupled) and having to vote in your college for SU elections (though this
was increasingly abandoned by my last year) I could have gone through my
entire university career and never once have it matter just which college I
was in. (Okay there were some other things but not all followed them.)
I certinly didn't notice. I lived in Park Wood (twice) and never really notices I was part of Keynes.
But then I was there around the same time as you
Mark