Because if shit gets bad enough for the general population, they go after the elites in full force.

This is why we have constant revolution throughout human history.

Whats scary to me is that before the elites needed other non elites to be bodyguards/administrators/army/muscle for them to help avoid that, and they at least had to trickle down to their henchmen to keep in power. What happens when they have automation for that?

Honestly good point idk. I like to think that a fully self sustaining autonomous defense system will never exist