Sure there is, once you have your basic needs met, you opt-out of any further status games.

The whole point of Maslow's triangle is that first, people meet their basic needs before moving higher up in the triangle. So how are you escaping the triangle when you stipulate "once you have your basic needs met"

Because you need foot/water/shelter. You can't just ignore those needs.

Status is something we choose to opt-in to. You can choose to ignore it as well.