When I think best picture Oscar it conjures up a certain type of film in my mind, and I don't think I'm alone. Wholesome, accessible, not challenging the traditional storytelling framework, epic... films like Dances With Wolves, Braveheart, Apollo 13. Maybe when people in the Academy go about selecting Best Picture, actor, etc. they can't help buy look back at previous winners as a guideline for what type of film or performance they should pick (maybe this occurs subconsciously). If this is the case "baiting" is worth mentioning (though it still shouldn't mean "of no value", rather of a style that's proven successful at the oscars).
Really though, this stereotype of what an Oscar film is has changed. I don't feel there really is an effective oscar "bait" anymore. Maybe there used to be... and The King's Speech might've been that type of movie, but now it's just a film of a certain style.
2007: The Departed wins over The Queen and Letters to Iwo Jima
2008: No Country wins over Atonement
2009: Slumdog wins over Frost/Nixon
These decisions, to me, indicate a change.