It is in today's culture. In another country, maybe it's hugely valuable to know the correct officials to bribe. That doesn't mean it would be valuable in a mer

It is in today's culture. In another country, maybe it's hugely valuable to know the correct officials to bribe. That doesn't mean it would be valuable in a meritocratic culture. The question is whether or not SV is meritocratic; your argument appears to be along the lines of "these things are valuable in SV, so they are part of meritocracy", which is circular.