Yup, I'm in the Pacific Northwest and our league season concluded last November. There were only two teams in our flight (it gets tough at 55+ 9.0 with snowbirds and injuries) and because we had a wildcard, both teams knew when the season started that we both would go. With sectionals in our home town, it was an easy decision to play.
It has been a challenging league season. Last year, there were three teams, and the year before there were four. With only two teams, the USTA only scheduled four matches for our entire season. I asked if the minimum qualifying match requirement of two matches prior to post-season play would be waived due to our circumstances and was told no. So I asked with only four team matches of three doubles each, that means a total of only 24 playing opportunities. We have 14 players registered so how can I possibly get every member qualified when I need a minimum of 28 playing opportunities to do so? We were told prior to the season that there would be eight or nine matches, and that is why I recruited 14 players.
After some back and forth, they gave us six matches. A few of us, me included, were only available for two of the six matches. I got injured before my first match so I gave up my spot for the second match, and three others also had something come up and could not get their two matches in. So I paid my league fees to not play at all, and the three others played a max of one match. With two more matches like we were told was going to happen, I'm pretty sure we would have gotten everyone qualified.
The only good thing that came out of four of us not getting qualifying matches is that I was able to have a few teams play together consistently. Otherwise, we might as well have gone into sectional competition just picking names out of a hat for pairings. We are still going to be at a disadvantage against the other teams.
It wasn't planned this way but the other captain also had the same issues and we both wanted to win our home matches so the slightly weaker lineups played away. As a result, we both ended up 3-3, with all the wins at home.