10,000 dollars isn't worth the time it takes to get to elite so that is just dumb, you can make 10,000 in a day with good investing.
As someone who does not have the knowledge and money to make 15,000 USD in a day via investing, 15,000 USD for playing a fun game nonstop for six weeks sounds much easier. Mind you, I am not participating in the competition, but it is perfectly sensible why someone would.
Now someone being so cheap and dishonourable as to combat log... that is just reprehensible.
Oh, and I've been waiting to use this image.
