The only problem was the writers eventually decided the viewers wouldn't care who was who.

In S2 Tony says "I'm bumping you and Sil up to caporegime and Consigliere respectively". And by pecking order, I think he was just referring to the chain of command. Like back then, Paulie and Silvio would have authority over the captains. And it's definitely true for a while, soon after, they get to order Richie (a captain) to build a ramp.