The free market allocates resources based on competence at the task of acquiring resources, which doesn't always equate to virtuous contribution. I think it works because it gets some utility out of people's greed instead of none, while appeasing the powerful instead of mobilizing their power against it.

The free market allocates resources based on the competence of producing goods and services valued by others using money as the medium of exchange. People get utility from voluntary mutually beneficial transactions that satisfy their needs.

That's the ideal, and you're not wrong, but it ignores the behavioral piece of what really goes on in the world.

I saw what you did there - changed the story to 'virtuous' from 'competence'. I call foul!

Free markets have nothing to do with competence.

They select for members that deliver goods and services at a cost (dollars, convenience, timeliness) acceptable to other members of the market. Which is a 'competence function'.