Eventually I'm sure the production companies will start to work with Microsoft to make this happen.
It would be great to see Microsoft take the inactive, by starting to implement "CLAN" features on xbox live.
I agree with your points on marketplace content, leader boards and tournaments. Those would have to be in collaboration with production companies.
Another feature.
To implement a Clan "Tab" Shown on xbox live dashboard, but filled with content from production companies.
Possibly show production company advertisements for latest tournaments, perhaps clan leader boards by game, overall, and player ranking.
A place on the dashboards within this Clan Tab to allow clan searching, based on recent games played,
or a place to register or signup for tournaments, or at least an advertisement that would direct to the in game registration.
Tournament Prizes, could include Unique "Gamer point Achievements" "Marketplace Content" or Sponsored Prizes,
example" Achievement Unlocked "1500 - Winner of the Coca Cola Battlefield 3 2012 Fall Clan Tournament
Prize Examples: That would include production company collaboration as well as Microsoft support, as far as dashboard "content tabs" and allow for Sponsors to collaborate with production companies to host tournaments and prizes.
Prize: 6 Month Xbox Live subscription, Unique Avatar Tournament Ring, Hat, Bracelet, " ect...
Avatar Marketplace Content: Special Edition Tournament Winner Nike Shoe,
Or floating avatar accessory, like a star displaying winner of ect.." that hovers around avatar, again production company idea.
As far as the leader boards it would be great to have a tab, on the dashboard, and the leader board could be in the form of an advertisement showing the top clans in the game, that way it is still on the dashboard but done by production companies.
It would be great to see these things done with Halo so Microsoft could sort of lead by example so other games can follow the template.
Also a dashboard Tab for Clan,
at first it would show a list to search for clans by region , game, game type, and be more of a directory. and lead into some sort of scouting, or approval process, similar to sending a friend request, and goes to "Clan team settings" an option to choose
admin's as far as who "team management" ect..
after you join a Clan this would then change to the "clan tab"
Where you can browse clan friends, and the service would become much more of a social network.
perhaps in the form of a social "app"
like right now it only displays Facebook video kinked, voice studio and twitter, but have instead a "clan app"
a beacon & avtivity could display "clan messages' when starting a game, to send out to potential friends or online clan members to participate in the game.