[pesmhey]

To add to your devil’s advocate arguement:

Educated and physically capable men with some wealth typically became warriors in the past. They certainly didn’t become blacksmiths/builders/engineers/whatever. Maybe there’s something to be said for an entire industry and culture around letting this type of person act out their aggression in a less violent way. Probably serves a huge good to a stable society in general, so that the builders can build in relative peace. If you believe that prices reflect value, then definitely more good to pay these dudes to tackle each other than it is to pay for doctors and teachers - Can’t care for the raped and pillaged.

Funny though that now we get the less-fortunate rungs of society to fight the wars now.