1500 points is not going to be enough to guarantee moving to Crystal

I didn't say it was a definitive answer. However, I will say its a logical answer. 

Even minimum deductive reasoning will tell you that Elo is still obviously what matches people in match making. 

Many of us are trying to get definitive answers.

However, until such time, if any, we have to make do with our best observations and inferences.

My personal observations had me checking the league status of opponents one day after I made Bronze to see if all opponents were drawn from the same league. I saw an apparently random assortment of Wood, Stone and Bronze players. 

OK. But all league players. 
So- being a non league player I assume I am paired solely with the same. And not paired with any members participating in leagues. 
This means CC has created two entirely separate rating pools for pairing purposes.

You could play a few games and figure it out yourself. I think you'll find you will be paired with people around your elo with no match making input from leagues. 

I just left the league and played a silver division player.

What is disconcerting is the fact - members were automatically signed up in a league. No permission was asked- everyone was entered into this artificial and promotional tournament. How many players are playing games - completely unawares they are in a league and sometime thereafter eliminated from this promotional gimmick?

I am not playing live games anymore here- have no way of knowing how the pairings work. One thing is obvious- players can manipulate whom they play ( rematches, friends, clubs etc) to gain league points. The pairing pools are no longer a random selection of all members. I cancelled premium because of this league business- not being asked if I wanted to participate but yet entered anyways.

1. Direct challenges don't give you league points

2. pairing is based on ELO like always

3. Since league doesn't effect anything, being in a league by default isn't an issue, and you can leave league anytime.

Hmm. It's not like discovering the matrix.

You can easily opt out.

As far as understanding the site's processes,  many things are obscure. The site does provide opportunities to ask questions but since there are so many millions of members, they can't afford the time to answer each one individually.

Have you seen the quarterly "State of Chess.com" broadcasts?

It is an issue of principle.

Members are not informed they are entered, by default, into a promotional, gimmicky tournament.

What principle? It cost you nothing. You can opt out at any time.

Seems a basic, simple question- one that should be publicized up front and in advance-

Once entered into this leagues tournament- whom are the opponents? What is the pairing pool?

What principe?

Being entered into an event unknowingly - not being asked if I wish to participate in a CC promotional event? The pairing pool as changed. You don’t see anything slightly off ?? by not asking 1st if members wish to sign-up ?

Duh … and duh

CC is using my name for their promotional / advertising gimmicks- without permission. End of story.

Pretty sure the initial article Chess.com released explaining leagues stated you were, by default, entered:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/chesscom-releases-leagues

"There's no joining required as you will be automatically entered into Leagues by playing games."

You are in a league a soon as you play a rated game, so logically the league has a mixture of player abilities and ratings. You gain points by winning or drawing rated games. Who you are in a league with doesn't affect who you face in your games.

Personally, I tried to embrace the leagues and focus on advancing leagues, rather than advancing rating - I still desire to win, but am not as bothered about losing, and it has made my playing experience more enjoyable.

Of course the first few leagues will be harder to advance in given there are cash prizes initially though.

I hadn't heard they were using your name for promotion. Where did you see it?

I don't see any evidence for your suspicions that the pairing pools have changed.

"There's no joining required as you will be automatically entered into Leagues by playing games."

This is what I take exception to. These leagues are used as a promotional gimmick , numbers made available to advertisers about participation in CC events. I did not enter nor agree to pkay - but was entered by default. CC can thus make claim of this widely popular tournament. Just observe the numbers. It’s nothing more the the typical misrepresentation of stats and data to sell their product. Got tired of it all.

People have corrected your incorrect complaints several times. 

You can say you don't like leagues, but saying matchmaking changed or that you weren't told about leagues beforehand are utterly incorrect. 

“ I don't see any evidence for your suspicions that the pairing pools have changed.”

How is a fair tournament to be conducted if not players in the same league are playing each other?

One player playing games only in his private club, one player rematching selected opponents, one player playing only arenas tournaments or another playing only …. Get the point? A tournament, to be paired fairly, must pair the players within their section and not other players who share no interest in advancing in the tournament.

The leagues are a tournament. Just formatted differently. But for fair results to happen - obviously whom you are paired with changes ( the pool of players is different than open, random pairings of all the general membership.)

If this is incorrect- then obviously players have the opportunity for manipulating pairings making for unfair results.

Oufcourse people are gonna play like crazy since you can win prizes. I cant win do because I was to late on the start so I missed 2 weeks while everyone climb the leauges and there is no way to catch up with the rest.