Does everyone need something "shiny" to make themselves stick out from other branches/services?

In the Army YES we do ABSOLUTELY. The Army is too big and too versatile for everyone to be of equal or similar capability. That's what makes the Army awesome. There are so many opportunities to shine, volunteer, and stand out. Most of the time being "all that you can be" also comes with a badge, tab, beret, special pay, etc... Sure why not?

"Dress Blues, Tennis shoes, and a lite coat of oil"

I think it's human nature to want to be a part of something that sets you apart from most "everyone else". Look at Veterans in relation to to the general population; fraternal organizations such as the Freemasons, Knights of Columbus, etc; fraternities & sororities, even trade unions (although that one is perhaps more historical than today).

There's a certain camaraderie, pride, and sense of belonging with others who share a past experience or "earned" membership. As as extension of that, traditions and "things" arise as easily recognizable symbols of that exclusive membership - to whatever degree that may actually be.

People will even make stuff up to develop something that sets them apart. For example, in one of my units, the members in my Company felt that we were the "black sheep" of the Battalion, and those in my Platoon felt we were the black sheep of the Company.

Later on, with how some events fell in to place and things turned out (Murphy's Law included), the crew of my vehicle began joking that we were the black sheep of the whole Platoon. It grew from there, and eventually became part of our group identity and we even took a bit of pride in that distinction.

We didn't have any "things" to go along with it - other than a goat skull we found along the road one day that spent a while tied to the grille of our vehicle - but over a long period of time, I can see how larger traditions can get their start from even simple things like that.

If I had shinies.....perhaps I could make an argument for this......but since I don't have any shinies other than my garden salad.

Consider the Phrase Esprit De Corps

'Need', no. Want, yes.
It started back when man was tying rocks to sticks to crack skulls better and if one was to ask Freud I think it would be because someone wanted to sleep with their parent...and that might not be too far off?

The Army history goes back 250+ years. The Army, in the 1800s was a group of "little armies" which developed traditions [remember the outpost in the west were miles apart and for the most part established their own regulations and uniform add-ons]. With that said, I agree with you, the Army has two much "junk" on the uniform. I've always like clean uniforms [rank, name, ribbons. I, personally, prefer the ribbons to be worn on the dress uniform only].

I don't think it matters as much as some people think. I know it doesn't for me. I busted my butt my whole career, trying to be like "the cool kids" and get the bells & whistles & shiny stuff, and as hard as I worked and outshined everyone else around me, I got NOTHING! So yeah...it doesn't matter to me. Maybe to someone else, though.

Hell, I had a lot more lethal firepower as a tanker. I don't care about the color of the beret. What I am interested in is what they bring to the fight. I have had stupid ass young infantrymen boo me as I rode in my 70 ton tank. What those f@ckers don't know is I would had their backs and overwatches.