Well, how could you select the "best under optimal conditions" if they not had "an opportunity to shine" and not be wrong? Since everybody you not selected could turn out later to be the better pick, no? Also who says what that optimal conditions are where a certain person will shine more then others if they are granted there best optimal conditions?

Spining future: if we assume we all have other optimal conditions who would you pick and change conditions for to let the person shine knowing that you may change conditions for otherd so they not can shine either anymore or not more like before?

Serious, the only answer is trying to improve conditions for anybody and look who shines most what givesnyou option 1, Meritocracy.