Believe me, as an amateur astronomer who was looking forward to full time camping as a way to get finally get away from city lights, I've spent a lot of time wondering the same thing myself. I've come to the conclusion it started off with a few who might feel they have a good reason to leave them on. I've seen a number of replies to similar threads where people say they do it for security, or because they need to let the dogs out later at night, or because it is believed to keep away pests. That's the seed in some cases. Then like any behavior in a group of humans, others start doing the same. Think of it like exterior Christmas lights. It's starts with a few strings, and over time develops into whole neighborhoods lit up like daytime. It's becomes a fashion, and fashion can become cultural norms.
I also noticed a few decades ago, that something similar was happening in neighborhoods. More and more people were leaving their porchlights on all night. It started spreading until it seemed like most people were doing it. Prior to the porch light trend I noticed architectural lighting was being added to upscale homes. You might call it showcase lighting. Lots of exterior light on all night long along with large decorative porchlights. As with many trends in society, it starts with the upscale customer who can afford the expensive custom work, then works it way down to the average consumer. Next thing you know, everyone is doing it.
A feeling of enhanced security has been a reason probably since the first person decided to leave an outside light on all night, but leaving lights on all night incase you need to let the dog out to pee at 2am? I see that as no different than leaving your bathroom faucet running all night in case you need a sip of water when
you visit the potty at 2am. People don't leave the car idling in the garage in case they need to pop on down to the store for some milk. For some reason when it comes to light, people think about it differently. It takes so little effort to flip a switch on, then back off 10 minutes later. You do it with a faucet, why not a porchlight? I think it may be because it's cheap and that cost is hidden in the overall electric bill.
I'm noticing a similar trend with RV lighting. Manufacturers are installing showcase lighting too. The first 5th wheel I saw with the big, bright LED V was the toy hauler Voltage, and the V was an obvious reference to the brand. As also happens, other manufacturers copy what works, and now a lot of brands do it. Attached is a perfect example of showcase lighting on an RV. A few days after I took this picture, another similar RV parked in a site close by, lit in a similar way, only with a long custom car trailer attached, and like the RV showcase lighting, the trailer's extensive sets of running and tail lights remained on all night too. Note too, that this is an high end RV, and like a high end house, uses quite extensive showcase lighting. The manufacturer even gets some all night advertising. I apologize to any Integra owners on this forum, but this makes a GREAT example to make a point. And yes, they remained on all night, every night.
Sadly, the newest spread of this trend is due to the proliferation of LED lighting AND Lithium batteries. Just a few years ago Boondocking was a way for me to escape campground lights where people in their RV's brought their suburban - or urban - neighborhoods with them, lighting wise. Now thanks to energy efficient LED lights, and powerful lithium battery packs, I'm beginning to see it even in boondocking areas. That is clearly a result of Jevon's Paradox. (Something for you to Google) Just for giggles, note that Jevon's Paradox applies a lot of energy saving trends. In a nutshell for those who don't Google, it's where increased efficiency, leads to increased use, due to lower cost. What starts off as a way to save a resource, ends up driving up consumption. Jevon's paradox applied to the use of coal in the mid 1800s. It fits just as well today. LED lighting is an excellent example. It's the fallacy of the "Energy Saving LED light bulb."
It doesn't help that LED lighting is becoming brighter and brighter. I've been in campgrounds where some people's RV lighting lights things up over 100 feet away. I was camping in a place to stargaze one time, (Pinnacles NP) where I had to use my motorhome to block the glare of a camp's lighting that was a good 600-800 feet away at the other end of the loop. Their lights literally cast a shadow in my campsite. I have a photograph of another campsite where the campers brought those double headed work lights on stands, and a pair of singles on the roof of their trailer and they left them on all night.
Ok, sorry, as you can see, I HAVE thought a lot about the subject as it has a strong effect on my lifelong hobby. I've been traveling the US, in part to be able to use my scopes under dark skies, and I've found it's getting harder and harder to do. :^(
Blinded by the light.
Emergency medical help. That was the original purpose, but now there are few of us old-timers around to remember that fact.
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