I think it would be much more sinister.
The FTL controllers would be seen as gods by species who have yet to leave their homeworld. Every civilization within their sphere of influence would be either have to be their allies, thralls, unable to move around in the galaxy unless they get piggyback rides by the FTL barons, or engulfed and extinguished by them.
Imagine if we in the real world found out that there was no way to explore the universe we've been observing for centuries, unless we allied with some alien species that does not, can not, have our best interests on their minds.
Interstellar travel would require resources, and resources would require interstellar travel..
To go against the FTL species you would need to control at least as many planets as they do, and to control that many planets you would need FTL travel..
Sounds like a monumentally hopeless reality.