Seems a bit inconsistent -- if Breakers filled the South Bay need, making FRAM unnecessary, why would Beach be invited to ECNL? Not saying they do not merit inclusion, but you cannot have it both ways. If FRAM's recent performance is just not worthy, that is a better argument.
However, for those with insight into the inner workings of ECNL, or who have paid attention to their growth strategy in the past, for good or bad, ECNL prioritizes relationships with DOC's and Techinical Directors when choosing clubs. So any addition of a Legends or a Beach (or an invite for FRAM) likely comes down to relationships. Call it politics -- its the game they need to play, if they want into ECNL.
Forgotten in all of this is the power US Soccer still holds. While their recent DA league additions are suspect, and the defections noteworthy, US Soccer could always go the route of a smaller DA league, with more financial and technical support per club from US Soccer. Make DA more unique from ECNL, as it should always have been, and resist the temptation and calls to make it more of a mirror image. If I were Legends and Beach, I would be advocating that to US Soccer right now. I have outlined how that might work before, so will forgo repeating it now. One can dream.