system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
I forget which comedian said it, but the quote I like is "there are no big-dicked dudes climbing Everest. They're all down here fucking."

It is 100% an ego stroke. I get Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary doing it just to show it could be done etc. etc. Waiting in line with a bunch of other folks for a selfie at the top? Pure ego.
gpt
Want to do something impressive?

Climb K2 without a guide, not spend $80k each to have everything carried for you