Well to me that means that knowing the right people got you stuff, not money.

While money weren't useless, being close to right people was absolutely necessary prerequisite. Also, one couldn't earn enough money simply by good engineering anyway. So the arguments stands.

Yes, large networks of "right people" to set up elaborate barter or quid-pro-quo schemes.

No way you could buy an imported car, for starters. You had to be a Vysotsky to pull that off.