User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 635 - Hooded Enigma/@comment-44061-20150715155754/@comment-26091912-20150717010557

@ Salubri

I disagree, the notion that the Elite Guard are elite in name only, because their spiritual power doesn't seem to be higher than regular Sternritter is somewhat flawed. They're not in the Elite Guard so much because of their spiritual power, but because their unique abilities set them apart from the rest; the same way the Royal Guard's do, which puts them on a different level to regular Gotei 13 captains.

Although it's really a term for a temporary role, you can't just appoint anybody to serve that role. While a lot of the regular Sternritter have powerful abilities, there's no one among them that have abilities which would've been a threat to the Royal Guard, except maybe Gremmy.

The only reason the Royal Guard lost, was because of the Elite Guard's Schrift powers. If that wasn't the case, the Royal Guard would've still defeated them irrespective of the power transference.