Re Matt/Apollo: As a competitive player, I feel for you, and agree completely. But if I were looking at it from the perspective of OP, variance at what's supposed to be an "entry-level" tournament is a very good thing. By making it harder for the top players to win an event, you effectively fulfill the purpose of giving newer/less skilled or established players an easier chance to win, boosting both their confidence levels and their desire to keep participating.
So long as everybody's play is legit, OP doesn't care who wins or loses its tournaments - they just want us to keep playing and keep spending money on product. New winners = more chances to create loyal, lifelong customers, so I"m convinced that this will remain in effect for good.