No, I don’t think it’s pulling rank; it’s just that if someone is frequently providing (or challenging) advice, it’s sort of customary and helpful to provide a little background and context. If the question of connection or experience is repeatedly evaded, I just assume the poster has no connection or firsthand experience or knowledge, and is simply relaying information he or she has gleaned from the internet.
Our state’s (not RI) Brown adcom knew exactly how our state performed historically relative to Brown’s overall acceptance rate and freely shared that information to a full lecture hall of perspective applicants.