among the points you have already mentioned, I would say that the word "drifting" itself lends a lot to the draw to this pseudo-sport by attracting those locked in a relentless pursuit of wanting to be - umm - cool. the word "drifter" to some has a connotation similar to rebel or outsider. there seems to be a whole sub-culture developing around the sport. for example, some are expressing their "individuality" (
) by adjusting their popup headlights to a half-raised stance. when you try to point out that this looks a bit foolish, as the headlights don't really look cool but simply broken, the response is always "it's a drifter thing, you wouldn't understand." well thank God for that. sometimes it's necessary to evaluate something for what it really is. and in this case - as you've already stated - it's simply a banal novelty (somewhat of an oxymoron, but it works) that allows companies to sell more tires. bully for them
let's hope it's temporary