Recruiting elites in EB2.

[A Very Super Market]

Equipment was not provided by the state (Apart from legionaires, not elites anyways) so you might as well replace that with wealth, instead of just equipment, as well as a multitude of factors.

Furthermore, you argument doesn't apply to your theory. The mere fact that Liby-Phoenican infantry are fighting in a unit outside of the Sacred Band makes them ineligible as Carthaginian militia don't turn into Libyans.

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

Indeed, that's a generalization. Elites could or could not be afforded their equipment by the state, and equipment is of no use without the due competence to use it.

[ziegenpeter]

Ancient "Froms G's to Gents" is cool but not historical because there was a bit of a class conceit going on back then