Be careful about making these definitive types of statements. A year ago I would have carried the banner for you leading the charge that my kid would never play DPL, circumstances change. It is a league, nothing else. I don't think most parents buy into the hype that it is anything more than that. Not every kid is going to get a chance or have the desire to play DA for a variety of reasons (kid is still mad at the local DA club, a club that offered your kid DA is too far to make it work or simply because there is a phenomenal player ahead of your kid at the last remaining DA club in your area). Maybe school is a higher priority than DA. Maybe they have other interests that DA would prevent the kid from participating in. There are many reasons, including not being talented enough, that a kid might not play DA. So if a kid plays DPL and they like and respect the coach. They like their teammates. They play at a high level (relative), who cares.
My kid is on a DPL team. I am proud of her, and her team and teammates. I am proud of how hard she and they work.
Good luck to everyone this upcoming season. No matter what league your kid plays in.