1. I enter to win, not for feedback. As such I'm trying impress judges. Intensity is the easiest way to do this, followed by giving them something they didn't expect.
2. Giant sweet strong meads properly made can last for years. All I gotta do is grab bottles off a shelf and slap an entry label on them; done. In the chaos of tweaking multiple beer entries as a deadline looms, this quick decision on an entry is super welcome.
3. It doesn't mean they're "better" or even what I drink regularly. I've said before: I'm not markedly better than dozens of great AHA mead makers. I'm just a little better than most at giving the judges what they want. Make mead however you like. If I'm drinking more than a sip of mead it's probably in the 1.009 range.
4. I'm going to take a tiny bit of credit and blame for the increase in 'Polish" Historical Meads. Less than a decade ago these were regularly cast aside, often with comments to the effect of "doesn't taste like sherry: Fail". Then some jerk won with one, went of a diatribe about it, then won the next year with "y'all really want sherry? Here you go"
Judges got better, and now more are entering their sweet monstrosities, lol. Some are even great.
Cheers--
--That guy who wins too much