To that I have no doubt...
I know when we go to Nationals for TAP, there are teams that are so out matched that its not even funny.
I actually feel bad for some of the teams because TAP Nationals (and every location in my local TAP league) use's Diamond tables, and for a lot of these teams its the first time they've ever played on a Diamond. They are carrying (over inflated) handicaps from playing on 5" big pocket Valley's and Dymamo tables, and just cannot get used to the speed of the Simonis Cloth, the way Diamonds bank, and the tight pockets.. Huge difference.
I also looked at the 3 closest APA leagues near where I live, just to see the caliber of players in each.
2 of the leagues were just as bad as the one I play in, and I do not mean that to sound the way it does, but... There is one around here that has quite a few decent players in it. It had I think (5) APA 8-ball 7's in it, and at least (2) APA 6's that I know must be sandbagging, because they should be APA 7's all day long. I know every one of those guys because all but one of them play in our local BCBC 8-ball league (the other guy used to at one time as well)..
I do agree though, that league skill levels will vary greatly..
we have 14 divisions in our area. i play 4 of them . i know some of them play in more than one division like i do but right off the top of my head i know there are at least 15 -7's and 19-6;s in those 2 divisions alone.
i have no idea how our players compare to other areas but i can tell you how i have fared in regionals and my one time at nationals. .
my 1st regionals was not long after i joined apa as a 4 and i went 2 and out. i had never played on diamonds before and they made me look like i had never played pool. before.
my 2nd trip was as a 5 and i went undefeated all the way to the finals and lost hill-hill.
my 2nd time ever on diamonds but i was able to adjust pretty good.
both of these were in 8 ball. we play mostly on valleys but occasionaly on gold crowns and just recently i joined a division that plays on red label diamonds twice a session. it usually takes me one rack to adapt from one type of table to another.
my one trip to nationals was for team 9 ball....as a 5.
my 1st match was vs another 5 and i won 38-4.....my 1st ever skunk in apa and since then i have acheived 2 more locally.
my 2nd match was vs another 5 and i won 38-10.
my 3rd match was vs a 7. he won the lag and was up 18-0 before i ever got to the table. after getting to the table i matched him point for point losing 55-37.
either i am a pretty strong 5 or my opponents were over rated .