Have been trying $1 4-max shootout satellites for the upcoming $5M Sunday million unsuccessfully so far. That's when I heard about holdem resources push fold calculator. However, I have one doubt about the strategy this calculator suggests.

Input: 4 players, starting stacks 500, blind 25/50/10, prize structure 100% to the winner.
Strategy: CO - Push 32.1%, BU - Push 39.7%, SB - Push 71.9%

Then I noticed there is a default prize structure given in the calculator (50%, 30%, 20%). So out of curiosity I decided to use that as well.

Input: 4 players, starting stacks 500, blind 25/50/10, prize structure 50%, 30%, 20%
Strategy: CO - Push 42.1%, BU - Push 53.5%, SB - Push 100%

The calculator suggests a wider pushing range if the prize is distributed between top 3 players, as compared to a winner take all structure. This somehow feels counterintuitive to me. Shouldn't we be willing to gamble a bit more in a winner take all structure, to accumulate more chips before the blinds go up (and hence push a wider range)? In the 2nd scenario, shouldn't we be willing to let go some tiny edges in order to move up the pay scale and let others go bust before us (and hence push a bit tighter range)?

I'm very new to online MTTs and therefore have been asking very basic questions here. So far people have been very helpful and polite here. I've always played cash home games with friends so far (simple ABC poker still works there). If you guys think there is a better place than here for these questions, please guide me in the right direction.

Thanks