No doubt the travel teams have the best talent by far. Nonetheless, the organized leagues such as Pony, Babe Ruth, LL etc offer a couple of things that are special. First, it is neighborhood-based with good friends, many of whom will go to the same high school. There will always be a place for that. Second, the post-season tournaments are usually more restrictive in that if you lose you are out. No second chances to qualify. That adds a dimension of pressure not often found elsewhere. All of which is part of the reason all three of my sons have in essence played on two different kinds teams when they were younger. Each tended to be pretty good.