This is one of the advantages of Best Game Qualifying format, especially at a location that has food and beer to keep you entertained instead of just waiting for the next round to start. Everyone can participate and they can do so as much or as little as they like. You can play for an hour and then just hang out and have a few beers or you can play all day.
I have to admit, I wasn't a fan of the format myself until Doug Polka showed us how to do it right out at the Rowdy Buck bar in Pittsburgh earlier this year after the IFPA State Finals. We had a blast and have been using the format a lot more ever since.
-Jay