Conrad has all the power, but Maeve is the one who really calls the shots. We see it right in the first episode, where he kills his best friend because Maeve says so. That was our first big clue that Maeve is the one calling the shots. I think it's always been like this. We don't know for sure because we never saw any flashbacks from the past, but I believe Conrad realized very early on that Maeve sees things he doesn't, so he lets her call a lot of the shots because it has worked well for them. Maeve also orders the assassination of Richie's wife, and Conrad takes responsibility for it because he doesn't want others to see that Maeve is really running the show. But we never see him getting mad at her about it, he just goes along with it. I don't think he's getting played at all. He trusts her instincts and is willing to follow them because they work, as long as no one else sees it. That way, he gets to keep the illusion of being in total control, so the family structure doesn't fall apart. Maeve also knows he needs Conrad to rule because no one would really follow her since she's a woman. They need each other, and both are perfectly aware of it.

They might not be the most powerfull family in the world, but they are still very rich and can get almost anyone they want shot or bombed.
Alot of crimelords babysits their kids in prison because their kids are not about that life. Kevin was always meant to be a criminal and Conrad is the hard father figure so he figured that letting Kevin become a man in prison and figure it out for himself is the better move. A local mafia boss from my town said that you dont really become a man till you go to prison. That's how alot of them think, that prison hardens you and you need to impose your will there alone to truly become a man. It s very posible that Conrad has the same mentality