If there is a program that sucks and the maintainer is unwilling to merge your changes that (according to you) make it better, then what choice do you have but to compete? Or are you willing to just let it be and try to live with the shitty program?

Competition is not a choice, you can't just say "please don't compete with me because I'm not motivated by it" and hope it will work. Competition is just something that you have to do if you want your idea of what is right to remain at the top of the ladder.