If you enter a section as the top seed, such as 200 points higher than other players, you are supposed to win every game. If you do, you might gain 5 points. But if you lose or even draw a game, you might lose some points. So winning many games in this case will not help you at all.
In contrary, if you enter a section as an underdog, you fight hard and luckily draw or win one or two games, you will gain points. In addition, you gain precious experience from playing against stronger players.
Looking at my daughter's 9-year tournament history, she has played 919 games, winning 357, drawing 159, and losing 403. She is losing 46 games more than winning. Her win-vs-lose difference has always been negative. It was -40 when she got above 1500, peaked around -60 when she crossed 1800, and bounced around -52 when she became Expert.