1. You need context. In a 6max game where its folded to you on the button and you can steal, 98s becomes a monster. Raise!
Fr, UTG raises and you get two callers to you on CO with 98s. Call!

Just remember that 98s is crap versus AK long term, but when lots of players enter the pot its value rises as it makes nut hands, not just tp hands.
PPs make nut hands versus a raising range, in a multiway pot a set still has $$$$$$$$$ value but flush draws too as do combo draws etc.

N00bs play bad because they play sooted stuff without thinking, better players realise why the play. you could flop tp with sc's and still know you are folding. Thats the key difference.

position is key however when thinking about this hand, implied odds are also important but overrated a lot.

2. Im quite sure there are people out there who dont do as well as is perhaps advertised. Im mean christ, my br is 20k and i havent had a wining month for 3 months in cash games and i have 100 buy ins behind. I could bust back down to 4k, where i started!

3. You need to consider what playing such hands in the situation you mention actually acheives. Are you going to stack someone if you get all in pf with 5 people left with A9o? probably not, but will you put pressure on others and make their stack dwindle by stealing blinds? Sure.