[dStrangefate]

Yeah, that always strikes me as stupid. Mostly a vanity thing, although some here are trying to approach it from a practical standpoint. Unless you're someone like Phil Helmuth though, winning a silly bracelet ought to be secondary to getting the big cash out. Particularly if you're primarily a tourney player--the big money wins don't roll around that often.

Consider:

There are a lot of poker enthusiasts on this site, yet how many do you think can name all the WSOP champions from memory? All the bracelet winners? A title or two doesn't bring you that much prestige. The ME may be the only title worth much beyond the cash payout. And, considering that payout is so high, it would still probably be smarter to take the money.

I think a lot of people simply think it sounds better to say they're playing for the title on TV. It's what the big pros always say. Obviously nobody (except maybe Helmuth and some celebrity players) plays just to collect trophies and jewelry; the money's the goal.