Discovery was intended for small clubs that aren't able to get into MLS NEXT or ECNL to have a top league for college scouting. Like all intended good things, the big clubs come in with their 3rd and 4th teams to ruin it for the small clubs. Then they are forcing it on younger groups like 6/7/8th graders now too because Big Clubs want to sell it to the parents of the 3rd teams that they have been developing their flight 3 teams and they are no longer JUST flight 1/2/3. 2008 and 2009s playing Discovery is not worth the drive. Discovery should not allow teams in unless they are playing successfully in flight 1 summer tournaments. Hopefully, all this talk of consolidating down to good teams only for next season will happen for the small clubs. If not, the jump back to CSL and other leagues will happen. Centralization was intended to allow college scouts to come and see these smaller clubs with great teams. They also need to rotate locations in order to make the drive easier for teams and local college scouts.
As for state cup, it's not a requirement. The additional $700 for state cup is not a requirement. Teams can choose to join state cup or not.