It seems to me that the "elite" or wealthy has always had an advantage in slope skiing. The more money that you have, the more comps you can travel to, camps you can go to, good parks you can access, good skis you can buy, etc.
The only difference is that now there are a lot more options for kids. Between on snow camps, airbags, academies, water ramps, off snow camps, summer rail setups, trampolines, foam pits and so on there are are more options than ever for kids to choose from if they are seeking something more to help improve their skiing.
IMHO, the best thing someone can do is to do their research and spend their money wisely to get the most bang for their buck when looking into camps. Call, email, talk to the campers, the coaches, the counselors and get firsthand information.
All that being said, I don't think any of those things are completely necessary to be successful, though they are certainly helpful.