I'm gonna seem like a broken record, but...
I respect your view about league size, but still don't see what the big deal is. (especially as there are several that obviously don't care about it after all, which is creating problems with no precise way to know what the outcome will be) We have a few really good guys with a few iffy guys. In my smaller league, it's still the same thing. (you should've seen how half asleep my supposedly awesome hitters were the first month!) Anything can happen, but for the most part, they're progressing about as expected. Plus, each of the 5 guys is playing every day and paying attention. I really don't see how free agents matter. Every team has injuries or loafers, every team picks up free agents. Our free agents over there are way better than the ones available here, obviously. (Vladi, for example) A team loaded with superstars or a team of iffies...if they progress at the same rate, it doesn't really matter. It's a much tighter and more interesting race over there, too.
I think I asked before, but was there a way for you to delete or shut down teams somehow after the draft? I wish they could all be deleted and their players either be made available (with pickups reviewable by the league) or just make it so they can't play and it would be as if none of their guys existed.
The only way it can truly work the way it should is if you take over every non-playing team and set their lineups day by day, if posssible. I'd be for that, but then...what about their DLs and such? Take free agents away we could've picked? :p
I'm thinking too much.