BHD,
As to teh question asked, our youth travel ball was more of glorified rec ball, what exists today is completely differnt than back when he was in youth ball.
Yes, I do believe that he would be where he is because of his competitive nature and his love for the game, not because of the little travel ball he played back then.
Interestly enough, in HS, going into junior year, he was called and asked to play due to injured player on one of the best travel teams in the country. He said no, he much rather go on a summer vacation to the Hamptons with friends family and spend time at the beach (like we don't have that here). Was he worse off for not playing...absolutely no.
Entering HS, son was asked to play for one of the better fall travel teams in the area, he choose to play for another team with most of his friends. Was he worse off for not playinhg better competition, absolutely not. And even more, he passed up on playing for some of the better HS programs in HS, did it make a difference, no. He'd rather pitch against the best hitters than play with the best, makes sense to me!
Entering college was a whole different situation.
The point is, as I think that Daque is trying to make, if you got the goodsyou don't need all of that stuff until it really counts, and that is not necessarily in youth travel ball. Everyone is different, some do need that to improve, others just have to pick up the ball or bat and know instinctively what it's all about.
JMO.