Not suggesting that you're not doing this... but... anytime I'm considering opening for a raise in mid-to-later levels, I'm always looking ahead in the hand, paying particular attention to stack sizes of players in blinds &/or ones yet to act (ie. like you mentioned earlier.. what are you calling with if you get shoved back on by smaller stacks).
GL on your quest to $1K.
I've never bothered much with the 180's, 90's or 45's, much preferring MTT's over them all. With some patience &/or satelliting, a decent cash will come your way, enabling you to continue you on in hopes of getting rolled to play marginally higher buyins, etc.
I've got some other friends on smaller rolls who've predominantly played satellite MTTs (on Fulltilt) and have done great in them (ie. $20 >> $900 in 10days, playing fairly small volume) and then occassionally playing the bigger buyin MTT that they satellited into (ie. the $14+1 sat. to the 50-50 on Fulltilt, approx. 1 in 4 gets paid... lots of satellite regs. in them, but very beatable).
Will check back on your progress. GL!!