HoB, I will address your questions one by one.
1) Social status is where one stands in relation to other people within a society. Not Webster’s, but I’m sure you could look it up yourself. You’re being petty; you know what social status is. You just don’t like it, and you have a point.
2) A Jew should certainly view himself as being upper crust by that merit alone. See the “Why Yidden are Best” thread.
3) Yes. If you ask what upper class means, most people will say it means rich. Really it means advantaged (relative to other human beings). My point was that I consider myself upper class because of my educational achievements. Your point that I should consider myself such because I am a Jew is correct and well taken. A person can consider themselves upper class by any factor that sets them apart from others (i.e. have-nots). It is unfortunate that money is so universally respected that it is the first thing the mind thinks of when discussing social class.
4) As much as it takes to be able to mingle, if you know what I mean. People generally define their own place in society by how they perceive themselves.
5) I don’t know. It ranges from “no benefit” at all to being the reason for a person to get up in the morning. As I said, it is what you make of it. Does mingling with other folks of your level and stepping on those below you make you feel worthwhile? Then your status is meaningful to you. To me, it is just a fact. I value the knowledge and experience that I have, but I don’t see it as a way to set myself apart from others. On the contrary, I am often intimidated by those who see it that way.