My opinion: there is just as much variance in live games as there is online, I have had the same beats on live tables as I have had online. The only thing you may see in freerolls and micro-stakes online are inexperienced players playing hands in the wrong position, pushing preflop with marginal hands, etc. because it is a minor investment to them, and some people may not even consider it an investment, but just mere entertainment like playing slots. Same story: being ahead pre-flop with AA and opponent flopping a boat/flush/straight, or having KK and someone pushing all in preflop with ace rag hitting an ace on the flop/turn/river. The biggest complainers of normal bad beats and suckouts obviously do not have the experience of live play to realize variance is apart of the game and happens everywhere, not just merge.