Aha, I understand now.... I would say if you are having a best hand prize, that it not need to go to showdown, only that it be shown before the cards are mucked and the hand is over. Otherwise, it would affect how someone might play a hand and therefore affect the outcome of the event which harms the tournament's integrity. If I flop a royal and bet the hand and everyone folds, I merely show the hand once all of the action is complete.... since fastplay is the new slowplay, people are betting (and rightfully so) their big hands. Let's not do anything to change the play of a hand or harm a player due a prize.
Hope this helps.
Jan Fisher