"Seriously, ref, I'm good enough to win. No need to play the game, you can just hand me the gold medal now!"
I know many people that have because they care, they are hungry, they want to advance, they can do higher level things and want to prove themselves, etc. and the vast majority of them have gotten nothing for their trouble but extra work. We live in a world where working hard is always encouraged and its virtues extolled but rarely rewarded.
It's more like being hired as a plumber and start doing secretary work for your boss for free.
There's a price tag on your services, why would give it out for free for some nebulous chance of getting a promo? Peak stupidity.