Look at the records and player performances from teams run by a few of the admins or long time GMs...
Scottsdale Copperheads
New Boston Red Sox
Great Northern Moose
That DOES NOT happen NATURALLY in online leagues and you are FOOLING yourself if you think it does.
There was ABSOLUTELY no need for true ratiings to be turned on for the upgrades. LOOK at the forums people, those upgrades have NOTHING to do with the true ratings