I think most of the arguments have been covered so there's probably not too much more I can add. I think the poll just reflects the opinions of those who feel strongly about it either way. Most people probably just don't care. Maybe there should've been an option for that
I like entering competitions. Not for glory, though winning is nice. I like the challenge of pushing yourself to do something
different. These days, it's unlikely a typical shot of *something* is going to win or get noticed. It has to be great. It has to be different, unique. Something about the composition, the field of view, etc.
I use it to push myself to get the best images I can and present them in the best way I can. Whether that's mosaics, interesting compositions, etc.
Obviously you need to fit within your target area as well. I'm not going to enter my deep-space images up against the likes of Jase, Mike Sidonio, Peter Ward, Martin Pugh etc. But in the Solar System and Widefield categories is where my expertise, and my equipment, allows me to hopefully capture something worth entering - and where I don't need tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment and 40 hours of data under dark skies to get the best image in that category.