Gutwrench,
Good to have you back on the forum to shake things up. I coached in the CIF for several years, many times against national powers Poway and Calvary Christian. Having experienced their system first hand, i still would put up many of the Kansas kids i have been around as equal competitors.
I don't think KSHSAA waters down anything with the current classification system. Kids are kids, coaching is coaching, it is all relative. Sectional champions in CA are very much treated like state champs here, your exceptional kids go to the masters tournament for a true state championship, but you have the same controversy there with some geographical areas and sections being a bit easier than others.
I think if you look at our national level teams over the next couple of years, you will see how successful kansas kids can be.

I hope you enjoy the upcoming season,i assume you are not coaching this year?