"Hidden" pilot stats - real or not?

So I've been trying to find out more about the best academies, and damn if I didn't stumble upon claims that the "rank" and the description of the pilots abilities affects the actual pilot AI. That a lvl 60 Lieutenant is still worse than a lvl 20 Major with the right combat description.

That my starting darlings that have been training for a decade now till never really be top of the line pilots?

So, is this a rumor or a fact? Finding discussions with google of today isn't as easy as it used to be...