I think in most cases they use petty culture bullshit to distract people from more concrete material concerns. They do it quite intentionally, and know what really matters. However, in the case of Vance I think you’re probably right. He’s an empty vessel who can only grasp superficial shiny things. I don’t care what fancy fuckin’ school he went to. He’s just another “clever dumb” guy, like the rank and file rubes in the lower echelons of the cult.