Jay,
The reason for shooting competition is because it's the next step up after you think you know what your doing. It lets you know where you fit in against other shooter as to skill.
People show up for many reasons.
When shooting competitively, it requires you to practice more often, thus, more range time.
Some like the camaraderie with like minded folks.
Some like to get more use out of their guns in a bit more meaningful way other than blasting rocks and tree stumps.
Some look at it as play...a deviation from monotonous regular life and away from the real boss....the wife.
Some like to be the "big shots"....literally.
Some like to show off their guns, especially me....I've had numerous people ask me, "Your shooting THAT??!!"
Some like to see where they fit in as to skill.....the State, Regional, and National Championships really tells you where you fit in.OK, OK, I won about a half dozen first places matches upstate in the AAA class at the State and Regional Champs but never an aggregate....out of dozens of matches attended. I ain't nuttin compared to the big boys.....in fact, anymore I ain't nuttin' at the local shoots.
As a life long gun guy, you would fit in nicely and would most likely progress to a AAA class within a year, as you know your guns, ammo, and inner confidence. Classes start at "B", "A", "AA", "AAA", and Master. I've only shot a half dozen master scores in my life and they were lucky days. Some guys do it regularly.
This is at McKean County Rifle Club at the 2013 Regional Champs. I took this and at the very end I walk to our hangout/canopy ...the big guy on the right is the other GUNNY, retired Marine DI.....we are best buds.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bGhKEGNruRQ
This is the "master" shooting an 1892 SRC in 38-40 using black powder. 50 meter pigs..if you watch the animals, you can see them going down when I shoot. "The Gunny" is doing the narrating.---6
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gs6LvI6yZU