I have opted towards buying in smaller amounts. I buy in for $200 or $300 at the Quarter table. My view is that they don't think you are a serious AP with a sufficient bank role to trouble them so they often either nod when away and the dealer calls a buy in and walk over later or barely glance at you. when folks buy in for $1k or higher they walk over, check out the money laid out, check that the dealer has the correct amount and take a good look at you.

Sometimes, the count is positive and you lose the small buy in, you can do the steaming act, show disgust, take another $200 out and plop the whole thing down like a person who has lost control.