Just a note to theme league creators.  I no longer enter 16 team leagues because I still pay $12.95 but 1/2 as many teams make the play offs and the pay outs for play offs is less too.   

Just something for league creators to consider on recruiting players. 
And players to consider for what value you get for your investment. 

Just my 2.5 cents.

so 8 out of 24 is 33% of the teams make the play offs in 24 team leagues.
and 4 out of 16 is 25% of the teams make the play offs in 16 team leagues.           

ROI baby

So if you had 100 teams you would make the play offs approximately 8 less times in 16 team leagues. 
And of course you'd win less championships too.  Ya' gotta' make the play offs to win a championship.

It doesnt matter how many teams make the playoffs............playoffs are just an extension of the season. There is still only one winner.

Your chances of winning a championship in a 24 team league - 1/24 - 4%

Your chances of winning a championship in a 16 team league - 1/16 - 6%

.........winning isnt everything, it is the only thing.

I'd argue that your chances of making the playoffs are entirely (or, at least, largely) dependent on how good your team is, no matter what size the league is. In the playoffs, which have a larger luck factor since there are far less games, a 16 team league gives you a 25% of winning while a 24 team league only gives you a 12.5% chance.

I don't like the formats below the 24 team leagues either. The only reason to use a smaller league format is if you are inviting personal friends and just want those friends in your league and you can't get 24 people in the league or you have a league that has stalled in filling but you can achieve the smaller total so to get it going you ask admin to change the format to the smaller league.

As far as winning, I still think you have a better shot in the 24 team format simply because there are more playoff spots available. If you can make the playoffs, you have a chance...and if you don't win at least you get a small credit for making the playoffs.

I guess TOCs are the easiest leagues to win, then, since all 32 teams are in the "playoffs."

As you know Crazy that's not what I meant. Without the wild card in a non TOC league there are only 2 or 4 playoff teams (12 or 16 team leagues) vs 8 in a 24 team league. I know I tend to make the playoffs more often if there is a wild card in the league. The TOC can be easier to win though because some of the teams in those leagues have been restricted by the theme league they came from that lessens their chances. I actually have a much better TOC record than I do in the regular league playoffs for example. I never play in progressive leagues that would retard my chances of winning a TOC.

Agreed. The TOC is a unique case because some teams are built much more optimally than teams that come from restrictive themes and progressives. The "win or lose" luck factor is certainly still present but undoubtedly dampened because of what we can call the talent discrepancy.

Simple math would suggest you would make the playoffs more in 24 team leagues, while winning more championships in 16 (or 12) team leagues.  I've played in plenty of both, and that's been my experience, at least.

I like 16-team leagues better.  Sure, fewer teams make the playoffs, but that first series in a 16-team league is a best-of-7 series.  I hate it when my 104-win team loses to some 83-win wildcard team, in a best-of-5 series. 

The "better" team wins the Championship more often in a 16-team league.