It was a factor for sure, especially as the AI would tank (stop and think) quite a bit at predictable spots and so the "Pros" would occasionally use strategies

It was a factor for sure, especially as the AI would tank (stop and think) quite a bit at predictable spots and so the "Pros" would occasionally use strategies to try to knock out the AI before it would get to that point (they were shooting for a targeted number of hands, so maximizing the hands per hour is to the Pro's benefit). That said, they still had both money and pride on the line, and at least one Pro insisted that he was genuinely doing everything he could to try to win, despite the boredom and desire to be done with it.