It produces average case results in efficiency the most of the time. Other systems produce the best and worst case results more often, in efficiency, specifically due to their lack of inclusivity. We know its better to have less cooks in the kitchen, you just better pray you have good cooks.

Socrates might've disagreed. I can see why mob rule gives the illusion of consent when manufactured consent is needed. It's simpler to not have popularity contests for corrupt officials and instead have randomly-assigned professional administrators.

Given that consent can be manufactured, I have a theory on where most of the truly smart people are, they are the ruling rich oligarchs. 'Democracy' is a charade to keep the mobs pacified and given them an illusion of electing the leaders they desire.

How is it then that scientists, engineers, and inventors rarely profit from their inventions while it's mostly the swindlers who do?

Perhaps it's the cleverest (in the negative connotation), most sociopathic, and those who've inherited it who are the oligarchs.