I had a great LA Open 2019 and busted through 2000 and was concerned my rating level was on the over-rated side. I did not know for sure if I belonged in hte low to mid 2000s level for Bay Area. Last 4 star tourney finally gave me enough matches vs that class of players and I performed favorably. I lost 7 points, but I feel it was one of my best tourneys ever. I had solid wins vs several of the 2000s class I needed to show me LA Open wasn't an accident.
That supports your view of needed some more data to be confident.
Now with teh Covid and so little TT... and the Sacramento Metro area only TT gym shut down for good... it is gunna be bleak here and tough to regain level and keep it. Bay area is 2.5 hrs drive away, that is a 1x per month distance at best.
If you have played several tournament over a year in your region and still are 2000 rating, you are very solid 2000. Still, your comparison between LA players and East Coast players based on yourself is far from accurate. Every player is different. Most New York players tend to gain rating when they go to big tournament such as Baltimore because there are many players from different region joining. It is easier for them to gain rating there than local competition. Usually they will lose all their rating increase when they played the local competition, especially in Westchester. Maybe due to players familiarity. Just last year, I played a 2400 player from LA in Westchester. I beat him 3-1 but I lost to a 2250 2-3. while he beat the 2250 3-0. Does it mean that the LA player is over-rated? No. He has been around 2400-2500 for several years. His east coast competition makes his rating drop to 2300++ but when he went back to LA, his rating went back to 2450. What does that say again? I have no idea based on just this sample though. So, I think that it is really up to individual play style and familiarity with the opponents.