OK, this is interesting. I don't know of any local non-competing bands that are active. The one based in my town is technically non-competing, but then they're barely hanging on with three pipers on a good day, a bass drummer and they scrounge other drummers from friends and so on.

Were I to play in a band, either pipes or drums I guess I'd be inclined to play in a "street band", and have fun with it and forget the competition aspect. On the flip side, I bet Piper George would say that preparing for the competitions has helped him become a much better piper, so there you go.

This has been a good insight, thanks!