It sounds like one or two people are whiners who want to decide what other people get paid. If they are worth more than 70k, then go away and get it.
Organizations all have those annoying people who are so convinced that only they are any good and everyone else sucks.
I bet it could easily be demonstrated that the lower ranking employees motivation, loyalty, and dedication levels shot up, and that the prima ballerinas who walked were quickly replaced by someone who likes the corporate culture. And the new hires are probably just as good as the ones who walked. Talent is a dime a dozen.
Talent is not the issue, motivation is.
The communist countries never lacked talent, they had brilliant scientists and brilliant engineers and brilliant inventors and not doubt brilliant entrepreneurial minds, but no one is actually going to use their talent and work hard if everyone is getting the same compensation regardless of effort and result.