It really is interesting. I am not a mountain climber, I'm more of a winter hiker that likes to play in the snow and ice. I have read numerous accounts of climbers on K2 recently. It is an extremely difficult and highly technical climb. Because of that, you don't get people that are paying somebody to take them to the summit. Nobody can. Either you have the technical ability and physical strength, or you don't.
I think that may be the difference. People climb K2 to prove something to themselves, whereas people climb Everest to prove something to somebody else. Greatness isn't just in making the summit, it isn't even in coming down alive, it is how you behave while you're up there. I read an article about Alex Lowe (deceased) and how he went to climb Denali and never had the opportunity to attempt the summit. He spent his entire time on the mountain rescuing people that had gotten into trouble. He did it because that is what a human being does.
It's a good metaphor for life in general.