Paying Dues

Only seven players showed for the G/10 tonight. Bob Bassett was the House man, making it an even field. Mr Vest and Hartley Chiang tied for first with 4 1/2 out of 6 and took home $10 each. Justin Swaby finished with 3 1/2, yet he took home $15 simply because he is not rated as highly as the two winners. Something seems inherently unfair about that result...
These are the players and their ratings: Vest 2069; Chiang 1980; Piper 1960; Johnson 1921; Lugonja 1691; Swaby 1677; Zimmerman 1636; Bassett 1581. The cutoff for the under prize was, as usual, the player who was paired with the top rated player in the first round, Lugonja, which worked out perfectly as the largest drop was between Longshot Larry and Dusan. I must, nevertheless, question how it can be possible for a player who scores a full point less than the winners to take home 50% more cash. The lower rated player is being rewarded, not for his skill, but for simply having a lower rating. In effect, the players who have worked hard on their game, raising their skill level and PAID THEIR DUES are being PENALIZED!
There were three prizes. As it turns out, if the prizes had been for first, second, and third, Justin Swaby would have finished tied for third with Alan Piper, both with 3 1/2, and he would have won money in any event! But, and this is the thing, he would NOT have won MORE than the players who finished tied for first! And I must mention that The Pipe would have won something, in lieu of winning nothing, so he was also PENALIZED for being higher rated!