I grew up with the “elites” and I think you are partially correct.
They are indoctrinated for sure—even though I knew all my professors were leftist liars from day one. (I had already mastered the complete works of Ayn Rand, Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard by age 17.)
They also like the “perks” of “fitting in”.
We all live in a model of the world—not the actual world.
Their model—of course—has them as the virtuous rebels fighting against the evil plutocrats.
My model has me as the virtuous rebel fighting against them.
Lol.
Since the days of Wilhelm Wundt and G. Stanley Hall, the entire basis for public "education" has been emotional manipulation. Why would its professional minions be any different?