Watching the LLWS all these years I always felt that the teams that had a chance to win had top flight pitching compared to 12U travel and the top group of the teams each year were competitive with all but the gorilla teams. I do believe the good travel teams are deeper than the lesser LLWS teams from the US.
Last year's Little League SW regional winner that advanced to (quarters/semi's of U.S. grouping) also put their all-star team in USSSA open bases tournaments. They were routinely drummed in the AAA division.
I gotta second this. As 12's my team swamped a team in Omaha 14-2 that ended up in the LLWS that same year.
meant to add that we were, at best, a mediocre USSSA major team. But, then again, we also had no geographical restrictions.