How did they get their nodes?
They held it in their own wallet while staking and created nodes with their own held coin.
They didn't give up that control to another.

I'm dependent on the  pool admin for my coin but I gave up control in favor of growth.

These holders have an advantage they created themselves.  "Being played" assumes the worst based on your assumptions based on your assessment stemming from the negative attitude.

Nobody played you.  You made decisions  

Hanlons razor:  
"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."