While I put ZERO weight into how our youth teams do at the youth World Cups because of all the intangible factors that go into it. I think ultimately the size of the US does create a logistical challenge that works against us with youth. If the Youth National team is true to its word and focuses primarily on the DA girls, we will never have the "best" talent our country can produce on the YNT's because there will always be talent that refuses to give up a well-rounded teenage life (reference to HS soccer) in favor of a sport that has no economic future ... just college.
Ultimately, the YNT doesn't practice as a team for any appreciable length of time, they get called into camp, spend a few weekends or weeks together at various times of the year and are sent back to go play with their clubs. They are learning each other when they are thrown into the crucible of competition as 13, 14, 16, 19 year olds. We should give these kids a break, the system isn't designed to build the best team, rather, an All-Star team according some some coach's subjective judgement.