I really don't think any 'rake back pros' are 12 tabling 25NL. And if they are they better be living somewhere with a low cost of living because spending 80 hours grinding for $300 which is probably more like $200 after you factor in electricity costs is a bit sad.

16+ tabling 6max at 100NL will earn you roughly $40-$50/hr in rakeback, which would be the lowest level that playing a break even strategy would be meaningful.

Downswings and bad runs will be brutal with a break even strategy, you are just at the complete mercy of variance.

I am not saying it is a good way to get rich. I am just noting that many people are saying break even is losing poker but it really isn't. And for a beginner/losing player it is a good goal to set.

I agree I do not think anyone would be playing for rakeback at 25nl. I was just using the figures given, $500 br trying to get $300 in rb.

24 tabling .5BB/100 + rakeback = $$$$$

Is it optimal? Should they move up? Who knows, but it is still profitable as hell.

So the guy slugging it out in a factory for $12/hr should keep slugging if he can only make $20/hr in rakeback?
As for the downswings and variance. If you play with 100 buy in BR variance and downswings will have little effect.
Now I am not saying this is the optimal strategy. But I will say it would be better than working at Mc D's or some crap hole factory. As most people do.

The 500 and 300 were just numbers to make my point of rakeback being winnings if you are a break even player.

Or find a better job.

Of course it will have an effect, you are living off your bank roll and have no other income. With a break even strat you can easilly have 20+BI down swings, lasting for a period of weeks. What you mean to say is you will have less a chance of going bust.

I look at it as a 3-headed monster:

1. Win at playing
2. Make Rackback
3. Capitalize on bonuses, FPP/FTP etc.

With volume #2 and #3 are quantifiable and can be thought of as a salary. #1 however has many variables. Even the best players go through long break-even or losing stretches. Certainly, everyones goal is to win, but after paying the rake, dealing with tilt or sub-optimal play, etc. often the end result is break even. However, IMO the majority of players that are mass-tabling for the the benfits of #2 and #3 stop working on improving their game (or don't put enough time into it). They get into a mode of "how many hands I can get in this day/week/month" instead of spending a portion of each day reviewing hand histories, reading threads, analysing their database, etc.