delete

Oh, I do get it. I played for years on w99 before getting a nth place badge. I played on many other worlds without getting a badge. I accept I wasn't determined enough to be good enough (read rich enough) to stay in the #1 alliance, or even the #4 alliance on those worlds.

You're correct, many alliances on many worlds have players who are selfish enough to want to stop others getting a badge on 'their' world and are big enough, strong enough, rich enough and determined enough to get what they want on that world by waging constant war.

Here comes the but..... what they are playing is a war game! They are waging war within the loose rules.
Here comes another but..... other worlds are very peaceful and have ensured virtually all players who can sign in regularly get a badge, even if they started late, joined a war against the eventual winners they can have a badge and be helped to get one if they want one.