I'm in an area that goes all out with the halloween decor ie giant statues inflatables animatronics etc and it's very much so a competitive thing, people with money to burn want to be the coolest house and win facebook competitions and impress the trick or treater kids, but also people want to be unique so one guy buys a 15ft skeleton but then 5 other guys get 15ft skeletons and then next year 15ft skeletons aren't considered cool anymore unless they dress them unique somehow, and the creative types make all their own stuff and try to stand out as original, it is frankly like guy version of women picking out the perfect dress for an event and getting upset if another woman wears same dress, couple years ago 2 guys in same neighborhood unknowingly both spent lord knows how much on the same giant animatronic creature thing and apparently it was "awkward" but bottom line retailers make $$$ off these people