I'll preface my comments with the admission that aqua-scaping, in contests or otherwise, really isn't my jam... but it relates to the larger issue of injecting competition into keeping fish (and the hobby).
Some people really like to compete - it get's them excited and energized. Others don't - and it's just not something that appeals. Awards, prizes and accolades are explicit ways to highlight excellence in our hobby (or some aspect of it). You have to compete to win.
The issue is that fish competitions - whether they be aquarium beautiful or fish shows or BAP or whatever - tend to emphasize very narrow models of fishkeeping.
Really "winning" at BAP requires churning through many species...vs. keeping a few species for a long time. Which is better? It depends on what you enjoy. But BAP penalizes the specialist (or someone keeping several tanks of a single CARES species vs. many species). That someone doesn't win BAP doesn't mean that they're a bad fishkeeper.
For example, to really win at fish shows requires keeping fish in quite un-natural ways - isolation, feeding them color enhancers...and getting them used to being displayed in a too-small-bare tank. Generally, fish that are kept in community or breeding settings won't be "perfect" enough to win. Some people have bunches of tanks with one or two (divided) fish - optimized for fish shows and others have communities. Which is better? It depends on what you enjoy. Technical fish judging is quite different than awarding fish that visually appeal (although judging frequently conflates the two). That someone doesn't "win" fish shows doesn't mean that they're not good at keeping fish (often just the opposite).
You've described the issues with aquascaping competitions. Similar issues with judging. With AquaMania / Big Fish Deal, we set out to make the competition fun and to encourage a diversity of entrants (technical and non-technical). To make it fun just to participate, win or otherwise. I think most everyone feels appreciated for participating. We also have focused on both popular and technical judging (and associated prizes). Maybe this could be a model for other competitions...
Matt
I tend to agree. I sometimes feel a little ashamed when relating to people that I *gasp* mix fish from different continents that like similar water conditions and thrive in similar niches. Why yes, yes that is a cyprinid in the background of my photo on the South American Cichlid page... but, you know, the main subject was the cichlid...
I've also seen my fair share of snobbery come from people who look at someone's very creative and cool, albeit non-traditional and possibly a little creepy, aquascape and mock it. I think we've got some creative folks who don't post tank photos because people make fun of their choices of decorations.