Anyone ever experience this?

Ok not sure how much of a strategy this is but...

I played a $4 180 tourney today and I had an avg stack but I had the chip leader to my left almost the entire tourney....

Basically the chip leader was so far in front that I did not try too many tricky moves....but....almost any move I made was respected and I also noticed that since no one really wanted to challenge the chip leader too much I also benefited because I was in the spot before the chip leader....

Long story short...I rode that wave almost the entire tourney...till I caught the small blind special against the chip leader and went on to finish in 3rd for almost 100 bucks...

I needed that....

Anyway have anyone else ever come across a similar circumstance....

It took me awhile to catch on but once I realized the table dynamics I just played along and it actually worked out....

Just wanted to share the experience.....Maybe I should of put this thread in learning poker....srry all....

Happened to me in the 3$ rebuy way back, I ended up getting 8th for like 800$ i think but anyways for a fairly long time when the blinds were extremly high...the guy OTB and the SB folded everytime and did not try to steal...it helped a lot but if they are that nitty and scared to steal then I'm not complaining