Yeah. In easy mode, I win with all 20 lives every time. Stopped that after three of those games, and moved onto Medium.

Now I just tried the same strategy for my first ever game of "Hard". Completed level 50 with 3 lives remaining, despite goofing on the layout placements early on (damned mouse moves the piece after I think I've dropped it!!).

EDIT: played my second "Hard" game just now, finished higher with 11 lives remaining.