H. G. Muller wrote on Fri, May 3, 2013 09:29 AM UTC:
I think you are greatly underestimating the role of Pawns in the FIDE game. What you say would be true if Pawns could not promote, or only promote to a rather worthless piece like Ferz or Reverse Pawn. But the fact that they promote to a decisive piece changes everything. The whole game revolves around positioning the Pawns such that you are left with a won end-game when the dust settles down.