I still feel like I'm missing something, even with Metro's explaination. Why are so many people reporting that they've completed this challenge when so much time is left? The only two reasons I can think of are 1) people are doing it until they just get bored with it then decide to take a final tally and call it over or 2) I just don't get the ending rule set.
Personally, I hope it's reason #1. I'd like to think that I'm somewhat brighter than I feel right now.
Either way, off to play Nathan Randy for a while. I can only play for an hour or two most days because I work ten hour days with a 45 minute round trip commute. Yeah, I'm saving up for a teleportation pad.