I can see where you are coming from, but we would not recruit only from those coming out of the opti program. We would specifically try to hook those who did not make the soccer team, handball team or whatever. They dont have the same cultural blinders many others have and just need some gentle nudging to really get into the sport. I dont think recruiting would be a big problem. At least that is my experience from other sports and from training a replacement crew on our Tornado. He get into the T at age 15, and loved the boat and the experience.
It is very true that cats are easier to control than skiffs, which makes them perfect for recruiting, training and fun. If they decide to get into a 29er, 49er, foiling moth or whatever and seriously race instead of an F16 after the "program".. Great! If they come to the F16, perfect! Either way the club and the sport wins and they know what cats are about.