User blog comment:WeissSchneeFan/Politics, Religion and Grim Speculation/@comment-15108745-20130908233939

I don't know about a caste system. I'm thinking that Vale might have less dependence on a social heirarchy and base it's layout simply for functional reasons. Kind of like how in cities you always have the apartments sort of grouped together, and then more industrial factory-style buildings in another group. It actually reminds me of Sim City (if anyone's ever played that game).

The "Upper-class" district might be the only sign of a social heirarchy there. But I think we also should keep in mind that it was Roman's map we saw. That area might just be the "posh" area in Vale and so, in his eyes, that is where the "upper class" live even though the people living there are not really upper class in the sense that they rule over others.

Having the Schnee be rulers in the past would seem alright. But if they were deposed, then how could they be allowed to rise to power again via the SND? And even if they were allowed to start a company, wouldn't a lot of regulations be placed on them to make sure that they wouldn't grow so large? From the looks of things, the size of the SND must be enormous. They are actually almost like the robber barons from the industrial period of the US. Very much like Carnegie's company, their company seems to be vertically integrated and controls mining, transportation, and refinement.