Wow, now that I am fully ramped up and have seen a few blocks, I get it now.  I am a true believer in Kano's pool!
I made more BTC in the last two blocks than an entire month of mining at Antpoo (back when I did not know any better!) or three weeks at Slush - even though the hash rate was almost identical.
Even though my 26TH is peanuts to most folks, it is still my primary way of building by BTC balance and Kano's pool is the best way I have tried - wish I had switched years ago!