Higher stats does mean you develope better. No 2 ways about it. With average stats you will always be average and the stat boosts to put you on par with others aren't tv efficient, especially when you are overpriced to start with... That also means developement comes down to luck rather than a strategy with skill picks. Bit like Khemri, you sit there praying for the throwers to get +1ag otherwise you have no game at higher levels of tv. As humans are the average team how to counter that in a way that keeps it while still giving them long term potential?
+1 str and +1ag to become an elf is right out, but not having either?
Lets have a gander at comparable high move pieces.
Human catcher
70k 8/2/3/7 Dodge, Catch, GA
Lizards
60k 8/2/3/7 Dodge, stunty, A
So, certainly weaker. But also dodgier (stunty dodges!). Cheaper unless you add catch. Poorer development too. I would overall fear them more though as unlike the human team they are protected by 7 str4+ team mates...
Skaven
The gutter runner. Probably the best player in the game.
80k! 9!/2/4!/7 Dodge, GA (mutations on doubles)
Better in two regards. Three if you include mutations access. Live brief glorious lives but are cheap to replace and have rapid skilling. In terms of protection the team will speedily reposition to die to the last rat but the gutter runners are a threat right until the end of the game. The Skaven have less blitzers but those blitzers can get claw (CMBPO)/muations. I think worse protection to start with, but if things survive better. Ultimately protection is provided by dead bodies which is something the humans can't seem to afford.
High Elves
90k! 8/3!/4!/7 Catch GA
Well, a nice blitzer
He can catch too! I thinkt he protection thanks to the higher armour stays up longer. The linos are free after they die though to get back
The blitzer is cheaper to replace than the pro elf though lacks the same tricks out of the box.
Pro elves
100k 8/3!/4!/7 Catch, Nerves of Steel GA
Pricey but excellent right out of the box. In that case probably the best basic catcher in the game but at a price. Protected adequetly by the rest of the team but with strength 3 are a bit less risky. Generally elves seem to collapse under the wieght of there own casualties if a player is not careful/unlucky but at least the line elfs are cheaper to repace than the regular elves.
Necros
120k 8/3!/3/8! Claws, Frenzy, Regen, GA
Included just because. Could be a catcher, once you have finished slaughtering the opposition! On a tough team that can do protection well if the wolf doesn't use its speed.
Is perhaps part of the problem just how good the opposing teams are? Should they be brought down to the humans level? Elf catchers coming down to str 2? So say gutter runers for 90k? (Look at current cost of team 4 Lineman 200k, 1 Thrower 70k, 4 Gutter Runners 320k, 2 Blitzers 180k, 3 Rerolls 180k, 1 Apothecary 50k.)