I think some of what you say is true, but for the vast majority of students at Harvard getting in was very difficult, as it is for all Ivies.
Between the incredibly high SAT scores, and all the other extracurricular activities that are needed, it’s not an easy place to get into. This doesn’t even need to be said.
Now are there some high profile people who are just average students that get in because of their social notoriety? Of course there are. There are also some that are highly qualified, that don’t get in, also because of social notoriety. Then of course, there are the Asians that don’t get in because of quotas.
But once you get in, are the curriculums and work required similar to other liberal arts undergraduate institutions. More or less - I think they’re very similar.