I disagree! You have to get rewarded for making the play-offs. That's just what you get as a reward, you can do some more training than the others. They have better draft picks. Otherwise what would your advantage be to make the play-offs when you're 4th or 3rd in your conference? Just one game, you don't make money, and have a worse draft pick.
Currently i believe the favored spots to be in is in this order. 1-4 -> 7th -> 6th -> 5th -> 8th.