Seems like a case of misaligned ideas of what constitutes an environment like Valve. Of course there will be a hierarchy any time humans are involved. The idea

Seems like a case of misaligned ideas of what constitutes an environment like Valve. Of course there will be a hierarchy any time humans are involved. The idea of Valve's workplace, is that the hierarchy will establish itself naturally and hopefully merit based, rather than imposed from above like in "normal" companies. Lots of projects in such a company will die. But I don't believe for one second that it's due to some elite clique trying to hold everybody else down. The much more obvious reason is that the concept was mediocre, hence why it couldn't get any backing internally. It's of course always easier to claim conspiracy and unfairness, than it is to realize that whatever concept you thought up was no good. There's a lesson in this situation about facing facts early, not being blinded by your own perceived brilliance and not brushing off criticism too easily.