I think it's time I answer to the topic because I feel that I am viewed as one of the players who constantly cuts down people's "wings" aka new ideas and I am no hypocrite to hide under the fact that no names or examples were given (Sharpwind, I appreciate a person who has the guts to point fingers but I do understand that you only want to underline a fact and not to start a war).
Yes, I'm guilty (how many times did I already say that? ). I do it and unfortunately not in the nicest manner. I lack diplomacy skills and I know it. On the other hand I like do it. I found out that I get more reactions and responses if I play the "rude card" then if I try to explain nicely.
Yes, there is an elite but as Grido said, it is not about age. It is about trust and loyalty. And even "elite people" get punished if they screw up. And is not Mur who "made" the elite, us, the players made the "elite" based on player's attitude, actions, sayings. Imo, Mur just picked from what we've offered. Again, my opinion, is just that anyone can do it. I don't think there are some secret initiation stages or bla bla like those for the ones that "aspire" to be elite.
When RPCs were around, everybody wanted to be one. I think RPC job sucked big time (and no, this is not because I never was one - i think you all know the story) and for me it was a pleasure to provoke them and to show the ones (not all ROCs were bad) that thought they are the center of the earth that they literally sucked. And time proved that I was right: stripped of their powers (given by Mur not acquired with their own forces) most of the former RPCs stopped playing or disappear into anonymity. Why? Because they were not "chose" by players. They were chose by Mur. They were "imposed" to us. Heh...I even know one very powerful player that went down like a snowball on a slop just because he though he was the supreme MD being and someone proved he wasn't (sorry..I can't let that go ).
I think I diverted from the original idea so I'll stop now.