Thanks for the archipelago idea, that is exactly it.

Status will always be a scarce resource.

Status would be the cause of oppression? That is difficult to parse, unless you agree with the SJW kind of stuff that using slurs or inappropriate jokes constitutes oppression. I generally don't, I consider those things oppression when for people people get beaten up for their skin color or orientation or discriminated from a job. I am European and thankfully do not have to care about the incredibly thin-skinned over-sensitivitiy American SJWs developed in the last 10-15 years, microagressions and all that, so I focus on serious stuff like discriminating people in things that matter. And serious oppression I don't really think that can be explained merely by status. Given that usually the victim gains status and the people who make themselves look brutal bigots lose status, don't think so.

And why do you assume that all men like fighting and violence?

Did you read it carefully? The Mentsch sub-gender was made for exactly those men who don't.

Not a single person I know likes violence, our culture is anti-violence already, and most people look down on it rightly because it causes harm by definition.

WHAT culture? Is this a case of Everybody Is American On The InternetTM? Do you see an anti-violence culture in Donbass? Even in America, have you ever seen further than the Blue-Tribe, SWPL intellectual elites with college degrees? Ever talked with a blue-collar redneck who goes to destruction derbies and wrestling?

Just as most people do not like violence, most people do not like war.

Based on videogames and films, that is kind of doubtful. These day you could write Total War on a potato and get a million pre-orders...

And what would war without the shooting even be, anyway?

Using different weapons, obviously, such as hands and feet.

But I don't believe your article should have focused on a single subset which isn't applicable to most of the existing population, when it is supposed to be a small part of a larger world.

Again I saw no point to focus on the conventional (in the sci-fi sense) and common, I wanted to focus on the shocking and surprising, because that can teach something.