I've seen SC Boys ODP teams beat NTX, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, and NC in Regionals at Alabama. My Sons ODP team made the final of ODP Regionals (beat North Texas, Alabama/Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida II) and lost narrowly 1-0 to Florida I, who won Nationals. No one wanted to play them, I can assure you.
Again my experience is ODP is not political. I think there was a lot in the past, but once they dumped the club coaches and moved to college coaches, the best players got selected. When it was club coaches, they didn't. So I understand people remember that.
The money and club coach (lack of) support is the other thing. As undoubtedly some players don't come out for ODP. If they do, my experience is they get picked and SC teams do well.