I'll take what may be a counter stance, and suggest that hierarchies are necessary in the workplace. Those that are higher need to be kind and show appreciation as a part of motivating those below, and those below need to show respect to those above.
TMonk may be talking in the context of the corporate ladder, but otherwise some of what was said does not make sense in other situations. For example, my clients/customers are considered by me to be peers. They invite me to various outings, and I invite them to outings as well (golf, clay shoots, dinners, sporting events, etc.). Generally, there is an expressed thanks by the invitee, and I've never felt it was not genuine. I thank them for sending me business, and they will often thank me for quick turnaround, good results, and the like. I've never felt it was manipulative in any manner.
Other than larger law firms, I do not have any experience in corporate Merica, though.