You're very welcome for the praise - it's well deserved.
Getting rid of the restrictions seems like an understandable move, as I say, the money seems to be crazier, but I know there's players at NCEL level who rejected Northern Prem clubs, because the were offered better contracts in the NCEL than they were offered higher up the leagues.
I appreciate squads aren't often full of real players at steps 9/10 but if you need any info on the NCEL prem sides, and the Yorkshire clubs in the North West Counties League too, I'll try and help in anyway possible. I do however get that, that might lead to a lot of headaches if certain step 9 leagues had squads that were more complete than others.