Agreed -- it is certainly inheritance that mostly takes the blame here, since it allows massive advantages to accrue, unchecked. However, I do think that there's something to be said against even inner-lifetime accruement of obscene wealth, as that can warp merit as well. Where's the sweet spot? - the level at which there are sufficient rewards required to motivate the gathering of wealth without the risk of accruing such an advantage that would unbalance the playing board.