EVE Online's Development Approach

So I was reading an interesting article about how EVE Online plans out some of their development.  Basically in summary: CCP (The company who created EVE Online) allowed the playerbase to select 9 players to represent them to the development team.  These 9 players came up with their top 10 issues they think should be resolved and give them to the dev's, who estimate how long each task will take.  Given those estimates the group of 9 will prioritize them and send them back, and the dev's then get to work.

I'm about to begin working for a company that's main focus is projects.  This process therefore seems extremely logical and familiar.  When I look at how WoW does their suggestions (forums for the most part I believe?) and then how EVE does theirs.  It almost seems like CCP is treating these 9 people (who are actual players) as CUSTOMERS. 

Yea, pretty shocking.  I know.  But these 9 people get status reports from the devs and then in turn give those to the playerbase.

Because these 9 people are 'elected' by the players it would seem very democratic and representative...right?  I am curious if that is actually the case, or if it is similar to our political system in the USA.  And while technically any of the players could get elected.  In reality you need to be a part of a major in game corporation to be considered.  I wonder if there's an electoral college in game too?

If WoW moved to something like this, do you think the elections would be truly anyone could win?  Or would people just vote in the biggest names? A member of Ensidia? Ming?  Would that even be that bad of an idea?