you have the same on pokerstars and the traffic is good.
ftp vs stars
3.30 - 7.50
thats a big difference really and although it cuts out the 8.7$ ftp step to get to a 26$ step on ftp vs the 27$ step on stars it in essense means you should have 2.5x the br to play them within brm and remember there is no $$ result added to your br from them unless you use the ticket for a larger mtt (and cash) or get high enough in the steps to where hitting the step ticket bubble pays enough $$ to show profit from the games and for your time.
Also ftp I think because of having the lower initial step $ start and the 8.7$ step2 has a better pay structure in regards to tickets, step 1 on stars for example top 2 go to step2 while 3rd gets 1.5$ back....on ftp top 2 gets a step2 and 3, 4, & 5th get a free shot at step1 again? I prefer the ftp structure when you consider you have to climb all the way to the top for any resemblance of a cash prize (which on ftp the final step is a cash payment) while on starts its usually a live event package which has some cash payment but tends to be only top 2 spots paid as opposed to top 3 on ftp.
All in all there are many things I prefer in the ftp steps vs the stars steps that certainly distinguish them as not being the same but quite different in many aspects.
Also I don't think there is anything special about the step traffic on stars either tbh, although its a hec of a lot better than on ftp....and think steps are a great way to get into large tournies for a small investment but they certainly get to be tough as you move up the steps most of the time.