To try and get back on topic, I think (again merely a personal opinion - or if you like, ill-informed rubbish) the LEVEL of banding isn't as important as getting maximum enjoyment musically and socially whatever band you play with. I love Fulham (4th section) to bits. In the last year or so, I've played back row, front row, principal cornet, sop, flugel and even 2nd horn (i.e. jack of all trades, master of none!). At the same time, Friary Guildford kindly (or stupidly, take your pick) asked me to play a bandstand job with them on sop! Having just entered the fray of top section, Friary was the first experience of championship section banding of any sort that I've had and although I was as nervous as hell, I ended up enjoying it immensely, particularly the more challenging bandstand repertoire. (Look, we'll forget those two notes I absolutely splatted in Cute, eh? ;-))
I think it's true that playing with better players raises your own standard. I'd like to think that experience with Friary has improved me a little bit (perhaps it would improve more if I practised more and spent less time on here....ahem!) but I'm still dead happy with Fulham and staying with them until I move to Scotland in October!