The changing nature of the game is key. When the 2 tables join to form a full table again, you need to go back to playing tight, BUT it's a whole different kettle of fish now. The average stack is now double when you started but the blinds are usually 5 to 10 times the original starting blinds. So, people go out quickly. In fact they start dropping like flies. As long as you have even an average stack, you can fold your way to the bubble. Then a couple of steals or a judicious double up and you're ITM