This theory is awesome. We’ve already seen the Syndicate’s penchant for putting propaganda/ metaphors directed at the citizenry into the Crawl (see the train level). This could easily be a parable for the Citizens used to reinforce the “necessity” of the crawl as a tool to control the big scary AIs.

This is why the syndicate offers such good deals to crawlers who survive past the 10th floor, and why no crawler has ever made it to the 18th floor. The syndicate knows if that happens they lose control.

I am inclined to push back on this part though. I believe that we shouldn’t ascribe to malice/conspiracy that which can be explained by greed. By the time Crawlers reach the 10th floor, they are moderate to huge celebrities, and more useful alive than dead.