The 'feudal lords' are not the 1%. They would be the .1% or the .01%. I imagine the latter two remain a much more static environment.

Also, the 1% in this article is not even defined. After some digging it looks like it is Gross Adjusted Income. There are CEOs who wouldn't be considered in the 1% because they take salaries of $1 while making millions in stock options - it is such a ridiculous metric.

Inequality is about wealth as much as, if not more than, wage.