In this tough economic climate. the fact that we as devoted chessplayers who are hopelessly in love with this game! we have the “opportunity” to enter major “tournaments” (such as the hartford open "pays 8oo$ min. to all class winners except (the unrated ). for two days “work” travel/motel rates cheap! sharpen your game it is time to get paid!!! most “opens” are held in the best facilities in that particular state. GO FOR IT !!! :mrgreen:
I’m not “sure” what your “point” is.
ROFL, I know there is good money in chess - because I have done my share of putting it there!
I know you meant that a bit humorously, but… for every “guaranteed $800+ prize” there will - by DEFINITION - be at least 20 losers of a $40 entry fee. Probably 30, covering other costs. I suspect my chances are better being counted among the 30 than being seen at the cashier’s line. No, there are other reasons to play chess - and I think most of us would be best advised to “bank” on those. 
Gentilmen! it is rare that you can earn ($) doing something that you love! this"hobby" of ours takes a great deal of skills! the players with the most skill are supposed to win the prizes. my point! why is that player not you? we all take our “lumps” playing competitive chess . i had too work two jobs for about the last 18 years,now just “one job” and lethal on the chessboard in my class! i know we may never see the level of participation during the fisher “era” i would like to see this game brought back to some of its former stature during my lifetime.(participate) 
This would be a more convincing statement if you had even a single tournament showing up in MSA for your ID.
A person that regularly wins class prizes sees the rating steadily moving to higher classes and thus tougher competition for those prizes. Facing that tougher competition is a goal for many players.
that is because i am just now returning to the competitive fight. lifes obstacles sometimes get in the way of our passions! speaking for “myself” i am just glad to have the opportunity to compete once again! I did not say i was a great chessplayer!!! but that "low rated " guy who destroys in your class that will be me! :mrgreen:
a few people along the way have asked me why chess, when there’s no money in it. I never gave them the response I was always thinking, that they had absolutely no clue as to how to be happy in life, and that I really felt sorry for them.