Even if you take away that one, there's enough left that's skill over connections and "aristocracy". It's easy to split hairs over what background can or canno

Even if you take away that one, there's enough left that's skill over connections and "aristocracy". It's easy to split hairs over what background can or cannot give to a company, but one thing is definitely true: An inept salesman from almost any background isn't going to close (by definition of ineptitude). I think at this point it's a matter of opinion, but I suggest it's definitely not "Just" an aristocracy and definitely is enough of a skill-based game that it's fair to call it a meritocracy.