Don't forget that i.e. Kretschmer sank more 270.000 tons in only 19 months. In addition the first 10 months of the war he was on patrol with a Typ IIB and only had the Typ VII for 8 months. In those 8 (!) months between April 1940 and March 1941 he made eight patrols and sank 244.658 tons before he was captured and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp.
Since he was the best it is the most extreme example. But most other successful commanders were out for 10 or less patrols before either being sunk, captured or transferred to an administrative post.
So I guess every player that survives the entire war and does 20, 30 or more patrols is entitled to have more tonnage than the best
