You're right. I got that cat when he was already a grown asshole. His original owner let him set the rules. It seemed a bit strange, but a combat soldier was a Beta to an Alpha Cat.
We battled for years to determine who was boss. Eventually we settled on a compromise of 'equality', but he was always pushing that.
One of the two I have now isn't great with his claws. He was a little over a year old when I got him from the pound, and had no claw training at all.
He didn't understand that his claws hurt. He didn't intend to cut me to ribbons, but he did. The problem with claws is that cats learn that pretty quick as kittens, but once they are adults who have become used to using their 'fingers' it is very had to break the habit.
Took about three years, and he's still not great. He can't stop using claws when kneading, but is otherwise ok now.
Never ever, ever let a kitten bite or claw you without some sort of punishment (water, noise, nose flicks, etc.). It's super duper cute when they do, but that produces asshole cats in the future. I made that mistake once and that cat bit the fucking shit out of my grandma while playing.
Never again. 8 years with these 2 and never a single bite or claw, except for kneading.