I don't mind some of those "no-hopers" on TFC2. You need some older players on those teams to have the team not do terribly. If TFC2 was just full of teenagers with potential, they'd get destroyed and that would definitely not help their confidence, like was happening when they were in USL-C before USL1 was created. So guys like Politz/McLaughlin/Bernat and even Caleb Patterson-Sewell are mainly there to help the team, even though they're not going to rise above that level. And you need guys like that for the veteran presence, mainly help the younger players with the intro to pro life. I've watched about two-thirds of the TFC2 games (haven't paid close attention), but those guys do help to provide some stability, even a guy like Politz must be a good voice in the room, since he often wears the captain's armband.
TFC2 wasn't sure to be participating until relatively closer to the season start date, so it's not too surprising that some of their 'veteran' players were the leftovers and ended up going with guys they were familiar with (ie. Bernat who previously was on trial with the first team). Not that it matters much, since he's probably unlikely to ever make the jump as you mention, but to look at the positive sides, Ovalle wouldn't occupy an international slot, he grew up in the US and has a Green Card according to wiki. The older Ovalle was one of the better players for TFC2 in 2019, was captain, and has been training with the first team
even in 2020, so he could have some potential first team ability. Also, reading his wiki page, doesn't appear like Bernat got cut from the fourth tier (was actually in third tier), looks like two clubs he was at in a row had financial issues and he wasn't getting paid, so some of his club hopping looks to be money related, but from the games I've watched, he's never going to be more than a USLer.