I don't think it's a feeling of being "elite" but yeah, it does kind of apply.
Folks who have been in the industry only a few years know nothing of the struggles that webmasters who have been around for a long time had to endure.
There were no link dumps, tgp's or cj sites. If you wanted to trade links with another webmaster you had to surf the counters and find a webmaster who had traffic within your traffic structure and email them. Response rate was around 1 in 5. I remember vividly setting up links on a new website and submitting it to Persian Kitty. I'd send the traffic through the link 1 way to them and the following week when the "new" button came off my link on PK, they'd then send me the return traffic so I could maintain a traffic flow. Then doing the same thing again for links on the Green Guy or Richards Realm. It was a constant juggling act and one today's webmaster doesn't have to put up with.
A lot of the traffic was paid banner spots (flat rate for the month) and there weren't anywhere near the number of programs to choose from. It was a buyers market like you wouldn't believe and just because you wanted to promote a certain program - didn't mean you got to. Today it's a seller's market and you can pick and choose at your leisure.
There was no rev share and promotional material was limited to a banner or movie and if you wanted to make your own promo material, you had to get a user/pass and go hunting for it. Now, you log into your account and get your balls massaged while choosing how you want your promo material delivered to you. Hell, some programs will even do the work and set it up for you, provide you a domain AND a server.
Newer webmasters walk in and enjoy an incredible buffet of food to choose from. The table and chairs have all been set up and all they have to do is eat.
And while you don't have to come over and stuff a $20 in my pocket, it doesn't hurt to recognize the folks who did all the cooking and prep work for the bounty you're receiving
