There is a difference in corporate philosophy and exposure. Every gym will choose competitions that their teams will have the best success at. You don't want to send your kids to NCA when they do not have a realistic chance of placing well. There is too much money involved. With that being said, most of CEA's lower levels attend Cheersport which does not get the media time of NCA. They have some good lower levels that do well just like the other big name gyms.
I guess my question would be besides Senior Elite, Coed Elite, and Small Senior X...how do you decide which athletes go to the remainder of the teams that attend worlds? Are those spots given to athletes who earned they were up from the lower levels throughout the year? I think that seems like a logical answer. Gives the kids who are borderline 4/5 something to work for.