I always hated the idea that every time I thought I was the greatest at something on an MMO I'd open up the leader board menu and be treated to a penis shrinking list of people who were that much better than me.
Not only that, but NPCs never give anybody any respect. In many MMOs I would simply be kicked from an NPC in one town to an NPC in the next questing zone with nary a second glance or "thank you so much for saving the town from imminent destruction." Where's the point of doing quests if doing them gives you no benefit of power over these sniveling lazy cock heads.
Also, the idea of burrocracy seeping into things is the very first theme of this comic. This strip is designed to express the disheartening feeling of being at the very bottom of the list and the ladder of power.