I don't have hard facts to back me up, but it's certainly my impression JGC higher star members get soft, unpublished benefits that a member who purely ran FOPs won't.

As Premier (second highest published annually-qualified grade, OWE) I was never greeted on JL solely on account of my status. I do on CX.
I asked a Diamond (also from HK) whether he gets greeted on JL. He said no.

Two other interactions with other suspected high CIVs/high star members
1) LHR-HND. Lead CA completely fussed over 2A from boarding. I wasn't being neglected, but the pecking order (to borrow your phase) was so clear I (in 1A) had to ask the lead CA when everyone was turning down "Is your guest in 2A going to use the empty suite in 1D? If not, I'ld like to sleep in it please".
2) NRT-HKG (This one I witnessed with the Diamond member from above) We were both Group 1 boarding, but just as they were about to start the whole gate team just stopped processing as a passenger was led by one ground agent through the line, with another ground agent carrying his rollabord (it was carried, it wasn't being rolled).
I was a bit irked, but we were boarded immediately after this VIP. I had to head further back than the VIP and the Diamond, but just as I was about to leave J I saw the lead CA, two other CAs and the rollaboard bearing ground agent give him the most royal of welcomes. I messaged my Diamond friend up front:
Me: "6* and/or government minister?"
Diamond: "6 stars"

There is a bit of blur, as there is an unpublished super FOP-only grade of Metal Diamond at ~150K FOPs. This grade would be akin to DM+/GGL/CK. Obvoiusly I don't know whether (1) and (2) were merely Metal Diamonds or 6 star or otherwise has a high CIV.