dad43: Let's agree that better kids are attracted to travel. I agree that it can't hurt to play travel assuming overuse is not an issue. And playing against better competition can give an aspiring player an edge for a while. I also believe that a travel player and a rec player with equal innate abilities will be pretty much on a par after one year on the full sized diamond.
One value of travel is that it should, in theory, force a better work ethic and technique refinement from kids who have had it too easy with success in rec.
Another value, rarely seen in either rec or travel is development of the mental side of the game and a passion for the game.
The differnce maker going into HS will end up being innate ability which, after the first year, will trump acquired skills. Moving up the ladder from there will be the mental side of the game since everyone will have sufficient innate ability and skills to go on.
As I said ad nauseum, players with better innate abilities will be attracted to travel but it is not travel that gives them the better innate abilities.