[David]

I play on Stars alot and IMO if you feel uncomfortable playing the $500 or if you might be distracted then take the tourney $'s and play several smaller events. Sounds to me like both cases here so my advice would be take the tournet $'s play some smaller tournies and commit yourself to play the $500 when can give it your undivided attention if you win over $500 in any of the tournies you enter with the tourney $'s.