I only use the 2x2xfield when 1 of the 2 are at good odds. If it wins the payout can be very good if you get your 2 home 1st. and 2nd. and if the 3rd place getter is at reasonable odds [or longer] the payout can be very good indeed if your longshot wins.
2 shorties and the field are just a waste of money as basically pointed out by others here.

It all falls apart as it did for me on Sat. in Bris. in R5 when the 30/1 Fancy Express came second and Tallum [my 2nd. horse] the fav. won. If it had been the other way around it would have been a very good collect.

Same thing happened to me in Melb., but with a bit of luck I could have scored 2 very nice trifectas. The advantage of this tri. is relatively low cost if you think you can pot the first 2. I of them has to be decent odds and win.

I use it a bit like a saver. e/w on the long shot and take it with the most likely to knock it off. If the longshot wins you collect on the big win, place and a big tri.
If the shorty wins there is a healthy place collect and a reasonable tri. or at least a collect on the place of about 5/1 which generally covers costs and often, even a bit of profit.

There are 3 positive outcomes possible out of 4. The 4th. of course being losing completely.