I don't think in any of our games a spot either way of over 3 was involved. Most were even up or a spot of 1 or 2 games either way. I didn't hear anyone complain about the spots the entire week. We were there playing in the Grand Nationals, not complaining from the peanut gallery.

Handicapping is nothing new and I feel it would be much harder to manipulate in this format.
We played a team where one guy had what I feel may have been a questionably low rating, but he was a young kid who was playing his heart out that had only played any type of pool for 2 years. This was his first UPUSA season. The way he plays his rating will catch up soon. Not a case of sandbagging, just a case of the rating not being super robust yet and getting past the starter rating. When he beat our guy they shook hands afterwards and said good game. No one complained.
I know with pool players this is hard to believe but I also didn't see people blaming luck or conditions. A few were having a tough time adjusting to new slick cloth but I overheard many people talking about how to adjust, even with rival teams when not in direct competition.
From what I saw UPUSA has more of an attitude of help everyone excel and push the sport instead of the usual "crabs in a bucket" mentality you see in pool. It's building a good culture and trying to put focus on the youth which can only help the sport.