The open qualifying is totally a financial thing. Its a way to boost the prize pot or donation. Now, those people who "buy" there way in quickly find out they don't belong in the playoffs. This summer my girlfriend used a total of 10 tickets (we had 4 games in the main and one in classics) to qualify for our 74 person tournament. It was pretty crazy. This is not the normal. There are people near the top of the IFPA standings that can come in and play about one game and get in. That's just how it is. There was a graph for the Southern Fried Gaming Expo showing how much each player used to get in. I don't know where it is though. Maybe someone else can dig it up.

I don't feel bad when I have to use more tickets. I don't play as much big tournaments as some of theses guys and need to adjust to the playing conditions.

If you don't like this format. Run a tournament where you only get 3 chances on each machine (or less). This method worked great at a tournament in Cleveland.

Dang... That sucks! We had about 70 people at our event in the middle of nowhere Michigan... and it was completely for charity. We had people driving from Jackson, Saginaw and Grand Rapids. Some were driving from 3 hours away. Now with the new WPPR format, we are thinking we will get over 100 for the National Baby Food Festival Open (yes that's really what it's called) this year. I just can't believe it takes all that just to get people out to an event in Texas.