> This enforced uniformity would destroy "elite" signalling. It would definitely destroy the supply. What it wouldn't do is destroy the utility of elite signal

> This enforced uniformity would destroy "elite" signalling. It would definitely destroy the supply. What it wouldn't do is destroy the utility of elite signaling (humans love tribal reasoning, it's cognitively easy) and thus the desire for elite signaling would continue. Much like even in schools with a strict uniform dress code, you can still tell who has money and who doesn't. Removing the supply of something rarely eliminates its demand. Thus, removing the supply into the reputation market is unlikely to eliminate its demand. People will find another way to signal. Also, it might be considered that many states already have what could be considered excellent, high-quality, strong flagship public universities. Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Georgia all spring to mind as states with excellent public universities, and I know there are more. Some of them are larger than UC Berkeley.