I probably need to make more clear what the OOC problem is:
An "old boys" club in-game is something that you can break into. You can become part of the group by nothing else but playing the game.
But that isn't the case.
Consider Eston, as perhaps a uniquely extreme example– it doesn't matter if you're in Eston for two RL years, because the "old boys club" will always be there 3-5 years longer. You will never be their equal.
Now maybe we could argue that the difference eventually approaches irrelevance after a few years– sure, I'll buy that. But here's the problem: you're arguing that it's not exclusive because it only takes, what 3 YEARS to be included? Holy !@#$ man– at what point does it become exclusive? A decade to be initiated?
Exclusivity is exclusivity– maybe not a "clan" per se, but still certainly not playing with friends.
