Hey bro, Looks like you are getting a good amount of views, but no takers. In biglenr's Thoughts on leaving a progressive, there is some of what you ask.
I guess, I'll go 1st. Which leagues are the best is totally subjective. I prefer single season progressives only. I enjoy hunting for long b relievers or 5th round picks that do nothing in 1-2 seasons but become a good backup/platoon later. I also tend to become attached to my players, hence the single season affinity. A whole lotta owners dig dual season progressives for the exact oppositie reasons. Recently progressives have been getting very creative w/ their ideas....
Currently I am in 2, was in @8 2 years ago. 2 folded, 2 were dual seasons.
The Centenary League, run by cardinaldave, is a single season pro in our 14th(my 10th)season. Commish is on the ball and has a Player pool that links you to the player page when you click on his name (sorry dave if this gives you multiple sitemails - but it really IS awesome). Season 1982. Great owners who trade and return sitemails (always a positive)...and uh yeah we ARE in the same division together...
The Jimmy Carter Peanut Progressive, run by habsfan1, is a single season pro in our 8th season. Commish had to deal with early hardships, but has captained our success and now we are thriving (we have an opening!) Season 1987. Same type of owners as the Centenary....
The average owner has no idea what a commish has to do to prepare for a progressive, the free team is not worth the time expended. They must LOVE they league they run, it really is quite an undertaking.
I know sheller, slim senior and gorbyruss/odalisgagne (forgot who was commish. One owner was way helpfull and the other was a very solid commish) run good progressives and have heard shadow35 is also solid.
As far as owners, again that's subjective. I prefer owners who are longhaulers as opposed to building for 1 season, then having multiple 95+ loss teams. But as long as they stay or don't leave decimated squads, I'm okay with any committed dude. Progressive ownership is also a labor of love. $12.95 per season and you are guarenteed to have losing seasons...
Just got accepted as an expansion owner of the EEPL progressive, They have 16 teams and are going to 20 for the 1969 season. Pretty exciting for me...