CONSULTANT
I respectfully disagree---you cannot use a broad brush when talking of "elite teams" --many work hard at having players develop while with them---learning to play on a team where your role is defined is part of development--- realizing that the players around you are at least as good if not better than you is part of development--- playing in a high tensity and highly competitive atmosphere is part of development --- being moved from the "big fish in a little pond" scenario is part of development --- being asked to give yourself up in certain game situations where you never did before is part of development
Finally not all "elite" teams are all about winning---many are all about refining and fine tuning the players game while playing at a high level of competition.
Just my thoughts