I think that it is still a delusion, even if you add the "currently on the market". The best people currently on the market won't probably bother sending you an application - they will probably just take advantage of their networks.

I don't consider myself to be in the top percent of anything; but I'm not even taking advantage of my network, it's the other way around - my network takes advantage of me :)

I.e. every couple of months I receive a really good job offer (discounting the shitty ones), just because someone knows somebody who knows me. It's getting really hard to say NO too.

Companies do take advantage of their employees' networks. Some pay well for a successful referral.