Your post didn't pertain to prize money in the 1990's. In your post, you suggested that pool carried momentum out of the 1990's. I was around the game then and I know this is false, and I explained why.
This year, by the way, per the AZB money list, the top 5 combined to make a total of $1,031,000 for an average of $206,000. Two players made over $250,000 this year. I doubt that has happened before.