Your post engages in semantic reasoning (some of which I agree with, some of which I do not), namely whether Gibbs is "elite" to justify his trade value.
The semantic argument is beside the point. Because Gibbs is a contracted player he will not move without CFC consent. The sole question for the AFC should be whether the addition of Gibbs with the loss of draft picks/players to satisfy CFC will increase your chance of winning a Premiership. If it does, then no matter how much it might be thought AFC paid overs it will be a good deal. Think Tom Boyd.
On that sole question my observation is that the AFC have quality forwards, quality backs and so long as Jacobs stands up, a quality ruckman to win a Flag. Your midfield is led admirably by Sloane and there is some midfield support for him but you do not bat as deep as other teams competing for a flag. Gibbs (however he is rated, and I do NOT rate him as elite) would add significantly to your biggest weakness. And he wants to play for you.
From the CFC perspective, we have only a handful of players that would get a game for any other club, have consistently lost such players in seasons past and have 2, in Tuohy and Gibbs, wanting to jump ship this year. For us Gibbs is a high quality footballer and a high quality person. He has shown loyalty to us in the past (witness his 5 year contract). I have no doubt if a deal cannot be done for him he will, like Wayne Campbell in the past, continue to be the quality professional footballer he has always been. Apart from his on-field leadership he is a good experienced influence for younger players. And if we can start plugging the leaking we might actually start building a team. So CFC will only want to part with Gibbs if you make the deal a no-brainer.
As to your semantic argument, your definition of elite IMO is too narrow. I would certainly rate Sloane and Eddie as elite and, to repeat, have never regarded Gibbs as elite. But if you want him (and you might) you will have to pay for him, HARD. But don't worry, just think what good value you have got for Sammy when the trading circumstances between our clubs were reversed. At the time I posted you had just got yourself a long term first choice ruckman and you got him for relative peanuts because CFC had an apparent surfeit of the type.