It’s not a scam - it’s a system older than 100 years that was built around different societal parameters that exist today. It worked well in its time, but society changed without anyone adapting the system to it. There would be also ways to make it (more) sustainable, but as usual implementing the solution was delayed so long it’s very hard to do so now…

As for your 2nd point, really? It’s so reaching I won’t even bother with it.