UB/AP WSOP Step Tourneys?

Is anyone here involved in these $.10 9 player SNG's on Ultimatebet and Absolute?

As I understand it (from the website) Step 1 "pays" top 4. 1 & 2 get tickets to a Step 2 table; and 3 & 4 get a freebie to another Step 1 Table. This goes on up through Step 10 with the top 4 always getting "paid", sometimes with a ticket to the next level table, sometimes a ticket to the same level table and sometimes cash, starting with a nickle for 4th at Step 2 and $3550.00 for 2nd at Step 10. The winner at Step 10 gets a $10,000 WSOP Main Event seat plus $2000.00 expense money. Looks like there are around 8 tables seating at Step 1 and Step 2 at any given time.

Railed a couple of Step 1 tables until I got bored (I have trouble staying interested in observing online play if I don't know any of the players) and seemed to be a lot of AIPF first hand kinda play going on.

Just curious if anyone had any direct experience. It's an interesting concept, but I hate 9 player SNG's and am not sure I have sufficient patience to "endeavor to persevere" in the immortal words of Lone Wattie (Chief Dan George).

I consider steps pretty much a gimmick to get you to play a high rake game.

I haven't looked at the UB/AP steps, but I am sure they are like the steps at other sites.

You are better off just playing games at and building a bankroll to direct buy-in.

Steps are used as an excuse or to get people to play over your bankroll.

Think about it.

Assuming you work your way up through the steps, your outlay is a dime, because you don't post a buy-in again. Assuming you don't finish in the top 4 at Step 1, your next outlay is a dime for Step 1. I certainly can't imagine they are getting rich off the dimes.