Hey Chris,
great event, I really enjoyed my first tournament and it was very well run! The quick reference sheets were especially useful.
-round timing: I managed to finish all my games fully (one ended turn 2, the others turn 5) and there was never any worry or feeling that we needed to speed up. I think we could have even managed 50ss without too much trouble.
-prizes: I was quite surprised at the amount there was to win, and liked that it wasn't simply for 1st/2nd/3rd etc. As a new player the idea of more models is appealing to me. However I recognize that in Malifaux getting something you already have isn't really useful, and so scenery/hobby stuff tend to work better. The only way I could think to balance this would be to just have the first person drawn pick what they want and so on. Then they'd be more chance of experienced players taking hobby stuff/models they don't have and newer players expanding their collections. I don't know if it'd work in practice though.
I'll try and come up again for Heartfaux, but you've managed to schedule it both on my birthday, and just before my exams!
Ollie