.
ObTrav: This kind of issue might drive a scion of a noble house to depart the 'civilized' core for the 'uncivilized' (but more free and less bound by social prejudices) frontiers (a.k.a. travelling!).
Yes. And my guess is for these purposes that the Spinward Marches would count as nicely uncivilised!
My logic for nobles doing adventurey things was that as 'second scions' (I.e
Not the firstborn) they weren't responsible for anything and therefore had more freedom.
I do like the 'grav stair'.... that's a great visual. Did you imagine a solid metal glitzy stair or just a 'step on air' sort of stair surface?
In as much as I imagined it, helped by some render art someone kindly did for me, I envisioned horizontal 'blades' attached at one end to a central core that 'spiralled' up and down. You'd step on to a blade/tread and it would carry you elegantly to the next deck without lifting your feet until you stepped off. I can't recall if I described it as having an 'outside rail' to hold.
I can picture there being something of a knack the first time you encountered it, but really no more difficult than an escalator.
There were lifts too for those who preferred or for servants having to shift stuff about.
tc