Top Trips, Nut Straight, Straight Flush Draw.. Beeyootiful. Why can't I get this on a PLO $400 table. These hands are so perfect that I don't even know how to play them that great. Did I raise too much?

Game #992113371 - (blinds $0.25/$0.50) Pot Limit Omaha Hi -
2005/09/25-12:42:50.8 (CST)
Table "Arnavon" (real money) -- Seat 8 is the button
Dealing...
Dealt to Tommyhawkers [ 8s ]
Dealt to Tommyhawkers [ 9c ]
Dealt to Tommyhawkers [ 7d ]
Dealt to Tommyhawkers [ 8c ]
mch722 : Call ($0.50)
DPRus : Call ($0.50)
Agent Bauer: Call ($0.50)
Tommyhawkers: Call ($0.50)
kyklop : Call ($0.25)
barrysak: Check
*** FLOP *** : [ 8d 6c 5c ]
DPRus : Bet ($0.50)
Tommyhawkers: Raise ($2.50)
DPRus : Call ($2)
*** TURN *** : [ 8d 6c 5c ] [ 5s ]
DPRus : Check
Tommyhawkers: Bet ($2.50)
DPRus : Call ($2.50)
*** RIVER *** : [ 8d 6c 5c 5s ] [ Td ]
DPRus : Check
Tommyhawkers: Bet ($13)
DPRus : Fold
Tommyhawkers: Winner -- doesn't show cards
*** SUMMARY ***
Pot: $12.50 | Rake: $0.50
Board: [ 8d 6c 5c 5s Td ]
DPRus lost $5.50 (folded)
Tommyhawkers bet $18.50, collected $25.50, net +$7 [ 8s 9c 7d 8c ] (a full
house, eights full of fives)

I like a smaller value bet on the river. a straight might call for a cheaper showdown. hands like AAxx and KKxx might like a cheap showdown as well.

Also, if you really got called, unless you were against some really really stupid players, you were screwed. This is the basic concept of way-ahead-or-way-behind.

Way ahead, no one called you. Way behind, you are beat.

You are not good at $400 level, yet.

Twas a nice hand. My only thoughts that nobody has touched on as of yet (I am by no means an expert at this game, so please remember that I am asking, not telling...):

Why the small bets? I thought that betting in PLO should (mostly) be for the max, except on the river (when you are trying to win a little more money). Your flop raise and turn bet were mediocre, so I am curious as to why you did that... :?