To me, an "elite" team is classified by "elite" players, who have a record or skill in the PTCG to boot. I mean, if you accept an utter "n00b" into your team, then you can't exactly classify it as "elite", because that one n00b can make your team look... how can I put this? Well, they can ask their friends to join, you'll say you want to help them, it gets harder and harder to say no, and finally, you have a team full of n00bs!
Forms never help, because teams with forms usually never look at them when someone applies to the team. And, as for FORUMS, well, they just think they're amazing because they have awesome forums. If I remember correctly, and PLEASE don't quote or bash me on this, I think that maybe 2-4 of the 5 major teams (R, M, Lafonte, Hatter, and Rocket) don't have forums, but that does NOT mean they suck.
Lafonte is the only real "elite" team I'm firmiliar with, and I know a few members such as Fulop, Drew, Ajay, etc. Those are elite players on an elite team.
So, in conclusion, I think the best way to solve this problem is for teams to be more careful of who they let in. Have an ABSOLUTE MINIMUM (Like, they MUST have a permier rating of so-and-so). But, meh, just my 3 cents.