I wonder how much attention a university will pay one one's personal statement, and whether this will differ depending on countries.

Applicants can state their aspirational goals about changing the world and say that they have gained certain skills by doing xyz which can help them become a world leader, although in reality they are very far away from that goal.

Will top tier universities give more weight to grades, CV and recommendation letters, i.e. those that state what you have already achieved, as opposed to your abstract objectives?