In a perfect world Phil would be right:
"cream rises to the top. If you as good as Herse or Masi or Confente you get to be known. If you're not, even by a little, you aren't. You don't get to be Rene Herse by accident or luck. and if you're as good as Herse, you get known."
In this world, the 3 builders mentioned would have been as well known as Philippe had they (or their business partners) had less marketing savy and fewer connections.
Skill is a combination of talent and experience ... being well known is a function of noise. So please, don't belittle a builder for lack of publicity.
And let's not forget that good marketing helps other things float to the top.
Amir Avitzur
R"G, Israel