Another thing to consider is that the range of competitions is very broad. Indeed the MTNA competitions (at least in our area) are likely to be judged by very knowledgeable pianists. The 'game' you play with them might be quite different than the one you would play at a competition that is not strictly for pianists on the conservatory track.

The concerto competition that introduced this thread offers a good example. There were two judges, one of whom was a member of the symphony league. I'm not sure either judge was a 'pianist' in a formal professional sense, though I'm sure that both were well enough versed in the literature. But the fact that the competition was geared toward a performance opportunity for the public together with the fact that it wasn't piano faculty or concert pianists doing the judging changed the rules of the game a bit. For instance, the Grieg that my son played is a standard warhorse for high school students. This is sort of akin to that daring competitor (the Italian guy if I recall) who played the Moonlight at the Van Cliburn. Yet I don't think that the demands on Anthony for perfection were any different because he chose such a standard and well known piece. I think it may even have helped him. The Grieg is such a beloved piece as far as the public is concerned.

The same is true at many youth auditions where scholarship money is attached. Often they are multiple-instrument competitions and the judging panel may (or may not) have a professional pianist. At these events, flashy pieces may work better, even if (or especially if) they are well known. Jeux D'eau trumps something more obscure or something more restrained.

Actually, my son has done better at this type of event when at least one panel member WAS a professional pianist. I still remember one competition where he finished second and the band director who was one of the two judges told him afterward to choose a harder piece the next time. And a band director would know the difficulty of the piano literature? Just how?

Coda

Well, at least he won his youth orchestra's competition!

Another reason to keep the piece alive.