Dearden was NCCB-USCC President from 1966-71 and resigned as Archbishop of Detroit in 1980. Bernardin was General Secretary from 1968-72, and president from 1974–77. Neither were ascendant in the conference from the late 70s to the early 80s. Bernardin had institutional knowledge, which made him valuable to the conference. He had influence as a cardinal and Archbishop of Chicago, but the others were not being forced to bend to his will.

McCarrick was a New York auxiliary before going to Metuchen. That is probably where the structure for the Metuchen diocese came from. Niether Dearden, Bernardin nor the NCCB-USCC had anything to do with it. The conference provides resources, but that's about all they can do.

My home diocese of Davenport started its appeal in the 70s. I think it was one of the early dioceses to do so.  To my knowledge the Archdiocese of Dubuque still doesn't have one, but parish income is taxed. Different dioceses in the same province, different ways of raising funds.