There's no optimal path to follow. I think that if you play to do a rebuy or an add-on if needed, you better do it at the beginning so if you get good cards, you will double/triple up to much higher level. People are loose/agressive so just play good cards and be very agressive too. If you flop a set or somethng let them come... There's so much dead money in these tourneys because people are so loose. I usually try to play tight and double up in the first hour with a big pair then play tight after.

Play against the table Loose when tight, tight when loose.