OP, in the current climate taking a year out for a non-essential reason really could backfire. Competition is getting tougher and remember that your place this year could have been in favour of a '10/'11 gapper!
Someone from my school went to Warwick last year with A*A*A* and the year before that (pre-A*) someone went with AAAA. This year its my insurance and I'm predicted A*A*A so. We're all oxbridge rejects post-interview. In conclusion, although I can't measure 'how clever' Warwick uni is, its far from an academic cesspool.