Skates, OC1 has to have more than a couple of returning OC players in order to meet PDR, although I heard a rumor that PDR was an issue for them (since corrected) after the Friday night tryout. And OC2 is not mostly PWB players. It has at least 10 players who played PW A or AA (in the case of at least 1 player) last season, and all but 3 of the players are in their major year. The three 06s all appear to be pretty skilled athletes. But it is a new team, and as any new team, it may be a lot to ask for them to be playing their best hockey over Labor Day. I do agree with you that the Bears look like the top SoCal team, but I think the OC Eagles look to be stronger than Kohn Ducks.
With regard to Flight 2 teams dropping, I doubt that CAHA or SCAHA will allow it. Wasn't SDIA denied their move to PWA last season? If a team wants to drop, it better do so before Labor Day.