Do you have a source? Not doubting you, but I think I see a lot of people take glee in punishing other people and would like to have an objective reason to disagree with it.
> I see a lot of people take glee in punishing other people
The fact that prestige is more effective than force, doesn't mean that force isn't effective. Imagine someone who's completely undeserving of any prestige-based status, yet has the means to control a business. Prestige-based status is unavailable to them, so they will use force, and eventually, the only employees that stick around are those that accepts such uses of force. (Imagine a toxic work environment)
Silicon Valley on the other hand (or engineers) are in high demand, and thus have no need to endure use of force (abuse) because there are those that will employ them that are deserving of prestige.