I am pretty sure this is getting an almost universal "what the fuck is this" reaction, so I don't think the CATS indoctrination is as widespread as you are suggesting.
This, basically. It's getting ridiculous in here.
@HeadShot has been threadbanned for two weeks. Verbal warning to the rest of you to dial it back a notch.
I don't think there's anything too objectionable about that sequence. It's a great visual and I'm pretty sure all the physics check out. Granted, physics isn't my specialty, but my understanding is that a space elevator would have the same orbital velocity as the surface of the Earth, so if you stepped off one you would appear to fall straight down.