Only in a very limited way. It is like paying a $50 entry fee in a casino to enter a Texas Holdem Tournament. Highly unlikely that you finish in the top 3 and get any payback. Quite a difference than going into a poker room and playing with unlimited raises and risking the farm.
I've been with Topstep (and have gotten paid around $35-40K from them). I've been with Earn2Trade, too. Took out $5K minus costs with them last year. Pretty sure both firms have made it VERY easy to faciliate you starting another trading combine when you fail, i.e.: "We're sorry to see you failed. Woud you like to start another combine?" LOL.