Me too, so I'm in a rather bad position to give advice, but I can tell for
sure that...
Do you need to be in a really excellent program
with 'brand name' recognition to get to a point
where you can be hired and have at least some
spare research time for paleontological research?
...this sort of thing depends very heavily on the country. Even the
existence of "Ph. D. programs" is far from universal -- over here you choose
a topic and an advisor (commonly from suggestions the potential advisor has
made), ask if the advisor agrees, fill out varying amounts of paperwork, and
get going.
I have been told that France is more or less ideal for the start of a career
in science (for example, if you find a job -- and that seems to be rather
easy --, you very soon become impossible to fire unless you "kill your boss,
his wife, and their children"). Later on the USA might be preferable (for
example, grants are much higher there, but more difficult to get; and your
salary is subject to negotiation, at least in some universities).
Chances are, however, that the most interesting Ph. D. topics can be found
in the USA, where I assume you are writing from. The more interesting the
topic, the higher are the chances you'll finish it soon, and this means you
have more time left for publishing -- in the USA, and even more so in
France, you are judged by your impact factor, means, how much you have
published in how famous journals.