"Winter Evenings"

I'm not against it at all. I just don't understand why it's immediately a "tournament"? :)
Those who want to play will just hang out on Hamachi. Those who don't want to... Well, there's nothing you can do about it...

Or am I misunderstanding something?

You understand everything correctly :).
The fact that you're playing in a tournament adds a bit of spice to the game, even several spices. That's why I suggest adding more excitement and buzz to simple games.
And it's just nice when you're praised after a victory, told "well done," and after a defeat, you're supported and told where you made mistakes.
At the very least, it's just nice to chat about the game :rolleyes:.

can friendly matches on Iron be submitted to the table before December 5th?

Impatience:D. Sign up first. Waiting for a game with a randomly selected player, especially since the player is not yet known, will also add excitement.