<p>I understood that you meant that prestige is a facade that Mckinsey is willing to pay for. But that it is just that: A FACADE. The real substance is independent of the facade. Real substance can exist and stand alone, without the facade that Mckinsey is willing to pay for. Hence your metaphor about GUAM, where the education may be as good as at Harvard. If you go there, you get the same education, but you miss out on the prestige, and Mckinsey is unwilling to pay for you, even though behind the facade YOU ARE EVERY BIT AS GOOD.</p>