O-1s are "genius Visas." Yu don't qualify by being "best and brightest." You have to win a Nobel Prize, or something.
L-1's are not for the "best and brightest." Quite opposite. They are like serfs.
The only requirement for an L-1 Visas is that you worked for the same company outside U.S. for one year. That's all.
And L-1's can't just jump to another job like H-1Bs. They can't go anywhere else, unless they find another company that would sponsor a new H-1B. And for most of them, that isn't an option.
But I can't find any info on how many there are in the U.S. They deliberately hide this info.
At the center of the debate is the H-1B visa program, L-1s and O-1s are an interesting side debate but I’ve never worked with any. But I am ok with ditching those. I am sure an abused visa too.