Fun show with all the cash winnings but I don't think all the contestants realize they get the "cash equivalent" when they win.  It's a very awkward prize.  If Drew just said if you win the game, you get a $5,000 bonus - that would register with contestants more effectively and be more exciting.  Or for certain games, he should say if you win, you get this $6,500 prize plus $6,500 in cash for Big Money Week.  Just makes it more exciting.

One-Away: My kind of car!   (I have a '99 version.)

I don't blame the contestant for stopping with $5,000 in Grand Game. At one time in my life I had only $8 and change in the bank, so I know how $5K could make a huge difference.

Pass The Buck! One of my favorite games! Three picks earned! Bad luck though, unfortunately.

Saying Pass the Buck is being played for $50,000 in that scenario is like saying Plinko is being played for $1,000,000 - or even played for $50,000 during standard daytime.  It cheapens what that's supposed to stand for.

If I remember correctly, all George says is that you have a chance to win such-and-such amount of money. And that is true.

By the way, you can certainly use expected value in the $50,000 win scenario, but you can also consider it this way. If you have earned three picks, and the first two are cash, there is a 50-50 chance of winning more cash on the third pick. A mere coin toss.    Now, as far as going for it....

Not sure if this is a permanent change, but I noticed that the Bonus Game prize descriptions/prices were not outlined in red as they had been since the board refurb.

Actually split between three (since that is as many as you can pick) - the $25,000 $15,000 and $10,000.  The $5,000 was just there to fill the spot, I guess. 
But yes, still hard to win, as to get the whole $50,000 you'd have a minimum of $25,000 to risk on the third pick.

There is literally no scenario in which someone could reasonably go for $50,000 and have each decision be the best possible choice along the way.

First pick, let's say they hit $10,000.  The five possible outcomes if going again are +5k, +15k, +25k, -10k, -10k.  Add all that together and divide by the total number of possible picks, the expected value of taking another pick with $10,000 on the line to lose is $5,000.

So let's be nice and assume they get $15,000 on the second choice.  That's the least they could possibly have and potentially have the max prize still on the board enticing them to play on.  That means they have $25,000 to lose, and the four remaining possible choices are +5k, +25k, -25k, and -25k.  Add 'em all up and divide by the 4 possible picks, the expected value of going on in this scenario is *-$5,000*.

Saying Pass the Buck is being played for $50,000 in that scenario is like saying Plinko is being played for $1,000,000 - or even played for $50,000 during standard daytime.  It cheapens what that's supposed to stand for.