Huge difference in competition - cash vs MTT's

[DVO]

Some quick background, to put my views into context:

After mostly playing online MTT's for the past two years, with good success ( 275 tourneys, avg size 300, 5 wins, 23 Final tables), I have been playing more cash games lately. 5000 hands at full table Party $200NL and $400NL, which is not many. I am barely ahead at the cash games. From posting a few hands and reading this baord diligently, I also know I am a mediocre cash player at this point, inferior to my tournament play for sure.

Having said all this:

I am stunned at how much tougher ( and tighter) the cash games are. Or, to put it better, I am stunned at how many inferior players populate the MTT's. A typical MTT table will have 1-4 poor players through level 4, and 1-2 poor players pretty deep into the tourney. That is a significant edge for a good player. I am speaking of the $100 tourneys mostly.

Is this because people play these things like the lottery
( i.e., small investment to win a lot, hey , let's gamble!)?

I wonder if I'm making the wrong comparison - i.e, $100 MTT's are comparable to $25NL?

I just don't get it. Thoughts? I'm going to post in both forums. thanks.