It's a much slower XP progression. I think that's actually a good thing, since you could power-level AW to get two or more advances per session (Macklin famously earned an advance in the first half hour of play).
End of Session, you get two XP, but you don't pick what you get.
- MC picks one
- other players pick the other one.
End of Season is the only time you pick your own XP, and it goes along with a Season Move.
And then, yes, you can gain rights by petitioning elders. I doubt this is often a permanent arrangement, however.