The high-status elites Eneasz refers to are rewarded by society with praise, respect, worship, etc. for playing the game in near mode, focusing mainly on maintaining their high status-profiles with little ulterior motives (at least, little that have a high probability of creating net world-wide utility). Such would be the same feedback loop for near-mode winning rationalist hedons.

That's how I understood the transition, anyhow.

I agree the danger is certainly worth considering, and think we should remember Machiavelli's position on the role of princes: The Prince's duty is to attain power and maintain it, by whatever means necessary to ensure the benefit of his people. *Paraphrased

Id est, the ends justify the means, but only so long as the ends benefit the people; purely status oriented games only benefit those who play them.