[Redrum]

If playing the LA schools is such a disadvantage, why was it such a of exceedingly large proportions contention point when the conference expanded?

I think at one time the California Four went for the  "Zipper" concept  that featured the geographically vertical division of the schools into (roughly) East/ West divisions.  That kept the California schools intact as a group and left the conference with the heavy lifting of figuring out which two schools in Oregon and Washington would join them.  When that process got two unwieldy, it didn't have the votes...in fact it never made it to some sort of "voting" stage.

[Redrum]

If playing the LA schools is such a disadvantage, why was it such a of exceedingly large proportions contention point when the conference expanded?

I think at one time the California Four went for the  "Zipper" concept  that featured the geographically vertical division of the schools into (roughly) East/ West divisions.  That kept the California schools intact as a group and left the conference with the heavy lifting of figuring out which two schools in Oregon and Washington would join them.  When that process got two unwieldy, it didn't have the votes...in fact it never made it to some sort of "voting" stage.