The sport is undoubtedly going through a massive transformation, and I doubt there will be certainly in the near term.

I agree with some of your assessment. The traditional September contact period of Juniors will increasingly be fruitful for only the top pitchers, catchers and sluggers. Expect P4 programs to take a handful of high school players in those spots, and then wait until the following spring portal to evaluate their remaining needs. Then, they'll fill those needs with portal and high school options.

Even if you're a very strong high school prospect, if you're not a pitcher or catcher, expect to wait until your senior year to get a P4 offer.

Those kids will have a tough decision to make: Do I really love the idea of playing P4 that much that I'm willing to school hop to get there? This isn't like baseball, football or basketball where there is the [small] chance of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I don't see the pending NCAA settlement really helpful softball at all. It's not gong to create more economic opportunities, just more pressure for coaches and players. Like in other parts of society, the gap between haves and have not is widening...

If you really love the game, find a coach and program where you can play and develop. Or find a club team at one of those "big football schools in the south" that every kid in the Midwest apparently wants to go to.