my sense is that anybody who gets made is reasonably well informed about mafia matters and pretty damn competent at what he does for a living (allowing for specialization among muscle work, drug-dealing, and white-collar work)

lots of associates and strivers (at least back then), but only a few get made

now maybe today things are organized differently--certainly the modern-day Genovese appear to keep members in the dark about who is the boss and who does what (and of course 'ndrangheta takes this to an extreme with the Santa)--but i think back then everybody who was initiated into the mafia knew who the other members were ----> indeed, i recall reading somewhere that the entire membership of the NYC mafia (all families, all members) was convened from time to time in great halls, whether by Masseria or Maranzano, I am not sure . . . .