gap theory , players know that 1 mistake can bust them or cripple them when the antes kick in , there are few deep stacks unlike the beginning of the mtt,the only ones priced in to call are the blinds but then they"ll be out of position.
But by loosening up your initial hand range in the latter stages and with smaller raises you cut down your losses if you happen to lose a pot...In other words, by making smaller raises preflop, I lose fewer chips when I ultimately lose a hand.
Mostly a lot of players tighten up in mid lat stages when the antes kick in , so steal steal steal is my main objective...
I think as a whole a lot of players get there strategy wrong by playing loose early and tighter later , imo it should be the other way round...........