Here is my opinion about Competitive vs. Social dancing.

Both are difficult to master in different ways, and both are better depending on the circumstances.

Competitive dancing requires that you perform the best technique in each dance to show that dance in its best form as determined by a standard that everyone is judged against. It requires that you dance with one partner to perfect the techniques noted. Competitive dancing is "larger" than social dancing also because it is "performance" dance, showing your ability to move with control in travelling dances and being able to interesting movements in stationary dances.

Social dancing requires that you be able to lead or follow any dancer you come in contact with, who can know more, less, or the same amount of dance info as you, and may have less, more, or the same mobility as yourself.
Social dance usually does not allow for large, quick moves as most social dance floors are small to tiny and can be packed with other dancers who may or may not know rules of travel on the dance floor. Social dance is not usually a "performance" dance, although when danced well, will garner comments from observers. Social dance is less about dancing to a "standard" and more about making the 3 or so minutes between the couple the most enjoyable it can be.

The skills needed for social dancing are almost diametrically apposed to those needed for Competition dancing.

A couple poking along on the dance floor in a competition would be judged at a low level.
A couple plowing through other dancers in order to dance large lines would be quickly ostrasized in a social atmosphere.

Keep in mind that the competitive form of dancing is a "sport". How is an NBA game different from a pickup basketball game in a neighborhood. Both are different, but each form of the game is "better" in its own format.