I think that Slughorn is a slightly deluded (or more than slightly depending on your criteria and perspective) character who wants what he wants. He created the Slug Club to help himself. That much is easy to see, but Slytherin rationales are rarely so simple. He created a club which would help those invited as well.

Do I like his criteria? I'm not sure. I'll be honest and say if I ended up invited, I'd like it. If not, I'd be irritable at his criteria. I've always wanted to belong, and anyone who makes me feel that way automatically has an edge in my life. Now, it doesn't rule me the way it did when I was younger, but it is something I will never fully escape.

Certainly, in less charged times, I imagine the Slug Club would be very positive for most if not all individuals involved. After all, it's a win-win. You get those with influence to see those with talent and then get to claim rights to having introduced them later. Everyone wins.

Kimberly ~ Slytherin