Just saying there are a lot of Elite level kids that are also playing in Platinum. Not saying whole teams but with the watered down "elite" division, the fact is that there may be some teams floating out there in Platinum that could be competitive. And maybe those kids aren't making the Elite team because Coaches/Friends kids are taking those spots. I agree that it's watered down but it always will be unless you can find a coach that really builds a team based on talent and not friends and can develop talent and not just poach talent.
History repeats itself. The old MBHL was once very select and the best around, but then got greedy and expanded too much diluting its talent. To fix that, the now Fed owners got together and left the MBHL to form their own league (Fed), killing the MBHL. Problem is the Fed is now more bloated and diluted than the MBHL ever was.
Why is MA hockey so F'd up? Greed. Greed. Greed. Simple.