norrsken: I feel with you.
I have started to review the participant list of such tourneys before I join. Many names I know by heart, as I play 50 moves against them ever day; but if there are unknowns, I check their record. Just click on their name, and see
- how many running games
- how many games that are threatening to time out soon
- how much vacation left
- # of moves made yesterday
- check any of their games that is on move 30 and see how long it is running.
together that makes a good enough picture, and even though there are exceptions, rather be save than sorry...

I don't get why some people find it interesting to have 3000 games running and not being able to keep up with it. You would think they learn it after a while, but it seems they don't. Just like Homer Simpson - bang! Aouw! bang! Aouw! bang! Aouw! bang! Aouw! bang! Aouw! bang! Aouw! ...