i've played the gold iron man tourney several times and in fact it is not very hard to get in the money. 95% of the people are reg cash players who play tight and it is easy to exploit them. about the models - ROFL, they worth coins...
The Iron status free rolls are nice, because there are about 480 people and 180 get paid, and there are about 80 who aren't even there. Getting ITM makes you $75, and costs you ~$16 in rakeback... So worth it I think - good roi..