it's a big hodgepodge for now because riot rushed franchising. the big idea was that the franchise league WAS supposed to be the tier 1 league, but obviously as you said there's a huge grey area between some teams in VCL and some teams in VCT (i wouldn't be surprised if The Union would demolish MIBR as is, for example). i'd say give it time. hopefully in a year or so with the transfer windows and such the different tiers will become a bit more defined