No-limit, Pot-limit cash games observation

[Penguinfan]

I don't claim to be any good at either PL or NL cash games, but I will play now and then. I just don't understand why people raise like crazy pre-flop at the $25 or $50 buy-in tables. At the $25 buy-in table if you got really good cards, and you raise the hell out of the pot and everyone folds, congratulations you just won 75 friggin cents with your good cards. If it's a bluff then your risking alot of chips for that 75 cents. It just doesn't seem like it makes any sense to do this at all, what is the benefit? Steal 75 cents? Waste good cards? In a tournament I understand picking up a round of blinds, but in a cash game I will take my chances that AA gets cracked rather than waste them for 75 cents.

Am I way off base here?