I've played 24 hour freestyle only a few times. I find that it's like seq but with an added advantage to let others play first then take your turn after everyone has cards and ended turn. Most of the players only have time to take their turns once a day but the convenience of playing whenever they can is the biggest draw. Then obviously the more seasoned players take advantage of this and begin their turn after they all have finished.
Seq esc and freestyle esc are two different animals. The biggest reason high ranks play public freestyle versus seq is the hanging aspect. In seq a bad play can wreck your game and you have no to little chance of recovery. In speed freestyle-- that aspect is almost eliminated. You get crippled in the early rounds due to everyone chasing a continent but can recover with cards.
It requires a lot of skill to win in either game-- I don't think you can compare the two as they are entirely different games with many different subtleties. Each having many advantages and disadvantages.
As far as waiting almost the entire 5 minutes-- that's more of a defensive maneuver than an offensive one. It keeps all the players in check. Unfortunate but a requirement to play the game.
Thanks Code for including my name with the likes of Poo-Maker but I'm still a noob to the game. I'm at best a break even player in those games. I find myself making many many mistakes with a lot left to learn. Poo by far is the best with everyone a distant.... distant second.
I suppose in closing-- the only thing that Speed Freestyle Esc and Sequential Escalating have in common is that it's escalating = )
* There is one big difference and this is only opinion but I feel that a good Seq player can play Freestyle but not necessarily the other way around. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, for instance MHennigan can play Seq very well and from his record in Freestyle, it's speaks for itself. But that's not speed though so .........
** 18 of 32 in 5/6 man speed freestyle games -- so I've probably lost points
