As a guy who had the 2nd best record at season's midpoint in two straight 24 team leagues who then saw both fall off the table and not even manage to make the wild card cut, I have to disagree with the central premise of this post.
I have felt that there are flaws in the game, for sure. But I have been involved in too many leagues where a team gets hot in the last week and makes a playoff spot that seemed out of reach, and I have seen teams choke and fold with a week to go as well. I don't think the "The AI has a result in it's 'head' and follows it," argument holds weight.
I have felt like the management at Strat0Matic is out to get me at at times, however.

tws