Very articulate and well reasoned piece.
 
I'm going to bring up a bit of a different line of thought. Please don't misunderstand, it is for discussion only.
 
People have different genetic make-up. For instance, world class weight lifters often have a genetic issue with the enzymes that break down muscle. So the question then becomes should other weight lifters be able to take something that evens the field?
 
Some people are low in thyroid and we replace it. Others need insulin, some need
enzymes to digest certain foods etc. We bring all those people up to "normal."
We lower b/p we treat depression we use drugs to control hyper activity. 
 
Now I know this must sound "out there" but let's hypothesize that there are major differences in "natural testosterone" or the number of receptors a man has on his
muslces or other genetic factors that dramatically influence quickness and strength.
 
Should the fellow who has a deficit in natural testosterone etc. be able to bring his levels up to normal?  
 
To reiterate this is meant only as a question and I don't want kids taking steroids. But over the next few decades differences in genetic endowment will be able to be manipulated. Some are already doing this by child breeding ( sperm banks where woman specifically ask for certain traits) and no doubt this will grow as we develop  technology. Gene doping is coming if it isnt already here. 
 
The question then do we basically say whatever you get at conception is it,  or do we let technology change the playing field.
 
And from a slightly different perspective...
 
I, like you, love the game and the training and the sense of improvement that comes with focus. Somehow we have turned it into something else.  
 
We worship our professional athletes and pay them millions to play a game, and then we get upset when they do what they can to increase their performance. I am not for worshiping anyone (human that is). I don't think the attempt to get an edge any way possible will ever go away until we change our own attitudes, and likely not even then.

- Paul Bearmon

[After we pointed out the WebBall survey on the issue of genetic testing, his comments continued...]

I agree the idea of genetic testing in terms of picking sports has a bad taste to it. But darn it I should have been a wrestler.
 
Here is the problem. Imagine we live 50 years from now. By that time, assuming
we haven't blown ourselves off the face of the planet, I am quite sure that the technology will be in place to modify a variety of gene patterns. Likewise we will know how to turn on and off genes so in all likelihood weight, height etc. will be controllable. 
 
Let's say we weren't talking about athletic ability but various talents such as music
or math. If you had a child and there was a safe way to insure high talent in these
areas wouldn't you apply it? I have a tin ear and would have loved to be able to
play an instrument. Unfortunately plunking out Greensleeves is as far as I could even get. Likewise,  I am exceptionally good at math, but not good enough to do the type of physics I would have liked to do. Kind of like a good but not great D1 ball player.
 
I believe this will be coming. Brave New World really. Think about the fact that 20 years ago there was no Internet. 50 years ago TV was brand new and antibiotics
just invented. ~ 100 years airplanes were a new marvel that could travel 50 feet - 12 seconds in the air.    
 
My own kid is taking the all natural approach. He is training 2-3 hours a day, hitting live 3x/week, and pitching live 1x/week.  He is crazy about baseball and there are not many things I enjoy as much as watching him swing a bat. He lives on protein shakes. I pray for his kidneys.
 
Where my kid trains there is a guy who almost made it to the majors. He says flat out that he knew several teammates who did make it who took steroids. He is, I think, quite happy with his life but he admits he wonders if he made the right choice. He probably puts in 10-12 hours a day at his "regular job" and coaching. He isn't wealthy. He has pointed out if he had played just a couple of years "up" or longer - since he was injured and believes he would have healed faster and better with steroids,  he would be set. 
 
He is a first class person and I think in his gut he is glad he didn't. But it sure must of been tempting!

- Paul Bearmon

After the above, Paul also pointed out a Wall Street Journal article on a procedure called "pre-implantation genetic diagnosis" - to determine  - and perhaps influence or re-program characteristics before borth. Welcome to the brave new world.