The puzzles / ARG were nice, but the payment should be different.
They should reward every individual contribution that solves a step in the ARG.
It should be a team based thing, and participants should pay a small fee to participate. The pool can then be distributed to the individual rewards.
We have seen teams forming in the previous ARG anyway, so it will take nothing away from the fun of the game.
The trolls will not be rewarded, because they did not pay the participation fee.
If someone cannot afford to pay the fee, someone else can sponsor him/her if they show potential.
A single reward only causes friction amongst people.
I spent a week of my life on the previous one, and got no reward and a lot less sleep.