Thanks for the insights so far.

At this point, I'm still exploring, but I have to say that there's a lot more adrenalin in tournament play, and I like the way the game changes as people get knocked out. I like the process of shifting the game from tight-aggressive to adjust to the various circumstances that evolve, whether it's playing from a big stack and pounding on the other players, or playing from a short stack, trying to set up that one good hand you hope to get.

And the reduction to heads up, it doesn't seem like coin tossing at all. It's a negotiation between two players about risk. Coins are flipped, sure, but stack size matters.

All this is in contrast to cash games, where I'm doing well--consistent small profit--but which have are considerably more constant in the strategy. Sure there are adjustments for players, but overall, it's a much more level experience (bad beats and maniacs notwithstanding).

Now, I've had a great run at the sit-n-gos, so when that variance comes home to roost, I may be glad of the level experience at the ring table...