Some are defensive, some are just noting that high status is not necessarily conducive to achieving goals outside the social sphere.
The importance of status is very dependent on how much you need other people to work with/for you, and how much they need your results. Also how said people view status itself.
I didn’t get the impression of the comments being defensive, so much as just pointing out caveats that are worth noting to start with.
Some are defensive, some are just noting that high status is not necessarily conducive to achieving goals outside the social sphere.
The importance of status is very dependent on how much you need other people to work with/for you, and how much they need your results. Also how said people view status itself.