How is 30BB pretty deep? The PartyPoker crapshoot gives you 800 chips w/ blinds at 15/30 for 26BB, about the same.

If you could get them to start with $500 that would be good. I agree that the format is flawed. I could see the first blind level taking over an hour, the next being done in 30 min, then the game being over 30 min later.