Such attempts, I am sure, will backfire. There are also people who care less for skype friends but wish to hand out proper recognition for proper merits.
Currently, there are PLR and JM going for officialdom. Both have strong positions. There are people who like them, and some who don't. That's expected.
But if they just manage to remain cool, fine tune what they are doing meanwhile, make sure they won't lose their control and harm other people's gameplay in the end, they'll have that spot.
Nobody can sabotage their progress, unless they themselves sabotage themselves.
