There is a ref above to halakha favoring Rav’s son for the position. Could you refer to this halakha, I’m interested to hear it. I am familiar though with multiple references favoring meritocracy: R Yehuda refusing to see someone who is “20 gen from Ezra” – I’ll see him on his own merits, but if not …
selections of Roshei yeshiva based on comparison of ocean v. harif. There is a gemora where two T’Ch are taken to burial to EY over a narrow bridge, and the idea that Rav ben Rav has priority over Rav ben non-Rav is condemned.
Yes, there is a concern of non-selection of R Akiva instead of Raban Gamliel because of his lowly yichus.