It's pretty clear that joining the Scions has gatekeepers.

Look at it as a modern day Silent Tower, if need be. That thing had sometimes ridiculous requirements but they were what they were, and the rewards were commensurate.

In modern day CF with ABS as it is despoil alone has the potential to be OP, nevermind the rest of the powers. I'm not surprised they want to keep the numbers of Scions low. If the cost of that is you don't have alts and have to work a bit, so be it. Don't blame the leader for doing what they're told when they're made leader.