most of the people like that i know live for the big scores and staying in the game. if they're in with rebate shops, just playing ensures that they keep playing. tax refunds are also a big deal as well. there must be guys who live for the modest, steady profits, but i've never known any. the guys i know are the flashy types -- expensive cars, huge tips, they didn't get drawn into this game because they do anything small -- or think like anyone else. i'd love to hear what you find out -- my biggest question is how do they make it work? it just baffles me with all the takeout, horrible tax laws, so many things that conspire to work against professionals, how the hell do they do it? i know it likely has a lot to do with self-discipline, a quality i've always needed extra work on (boy, that's putting it mildly), but there's more to it than that. i wish i knew. not that i'd want to do this full-time, but i admire the folks who do -- there's no BS or excuses in their world -- they live by their opinion and, every day, put their butts on the line, not too many people can say that's the way they live their life, ya know?