I agree with your sentiment that this is a common trope. I'm merely suggesting that it is inevitable and self-perpetuating. As long as people make rational decisions to accept the best opportunities offered to them, they will funnel themselves into the "path of privilege," maybe without even realizing it.
Of course, it's questionable whether the best opportunities are the ones that only come to you because of your status.... usually that means there is excess supply of those opportunities and you are on the verge of entering a culling machine. (See: recent increase in CS majors)
Yup, it definitely is kind of a cliche. And unfortunately it's more often the way things actually work. (Thinking of certain "founders" I've known who definitely would not have been, had it not been for family connections).