To me, I could be wrong, I've never felt that any of the "cliques" were hard to get to? Get into? Until you burned a bridge, perhaps, by doing something you regret later?? Like, maybe people think joining X Y Z FC or interacting with members of that FC were hard, but when I used to feel much about my RP I didn't find it so hard.
I guess my point is, yes there are groups of people. It's sorta natural that as you get closer to people that you tend to hang out with them more often. They're easier for you to get along with, etc. However, it's been my experience that these groups are not hard set on being -exclusive- which is when I feel that they would be a problem. I've never experienced an actual group that straight up ignored or rejected or blatantly refused to interact with me.
And I've burned my fair share of bridges.
Which leads me into the thought where I've always been confused by the whole "popular" part. @_@ What defines someone into being popular? Someone who has a large community that they've worked hard to network with? Someone knows their name? I admit to having this one heart attack moment where a fellow healer, a WHM, one I -think- who frequents RPC but the last name is a common one so I'm not sure... asked if I was "that Kage from Balmung." Wah? Was it because I post a lot?