We play one tie all tie but don't double the pot. Everyone does a re-ante. I agree that 4 is easy but I can't count how many times I have seen that be the winning number
The problem is, for the game to work you need a lot of people in and out of the game and it has to have a high perception of luck. If you have a guy in the game who doesn't even try to luck a ball in on the break and always cinches a four, people quit playing. If you can play, you will probably make four most of the time just whacking the balls and you won't look like a nit. The better player always ends up with the money in these games anyway. No reason to really play like that.