Your response is very perceptive. You are correct on two points, approval is based on merit and more important financial status of sponsors, and also travel history of the applicant. If an applicant has 'struggling' sponsors, advanced in age, and does not have previous travel history, that is an absolute recipe for disaster. Advanced in age with no international travel history is like 25, 26, 27 years, talk less of being over 30 with no significant work experience.. So information is power.. You can choose to disregard it, or proceed blindly and hope for the best.. Typical of my people to always 'hope' for the best without arming themselves without the right knowledge.
Cheers