RJM I agree with you.....but I also think you would agree that playing travel before age 13 certainly can't hurt.
Playing with biger fields/base paths, open bases and learning how to take a lead and keep runners from leading, playing stonger comepetion ( the number 8 hole hitter on many travel teams are the #4 hitter on the local rec team) and hiting against better competetion certainly can hurt one's development.
It looks like my son followed a very simliar path to your son...played both Little league and "township" travel ball before age 13...then once he got to the bigger field he played for a regional tavel team.
His freshman year he was a JV starter for his High school team and in his sophmore year was a picher/1b starter for his varsity team. He plays for a 4A high school.
I would not try to tell anyone that the time he had playing travel before age 13 had anything to do with his success so far in high school.
So would I agree that the pre teen ages should be about developing the love for the game and the basic's...they can get this in many different ways.....
I do think playing some level of travel before age 13 does help keep the interest level higher due to the above mentioned factors ( taking leadings etc)
Which might help us from losing kids to the L-Word?