It all depends on your definition of modified.
And obviously, your definition of modified is different from the car club shows where you didn't win anything.
In all honesty, I've never understood the reasoning for the one-size-fits-all modified class. Because, as you've pointed out, it's not one size and it doesn't fit all.
Car guys will almost always consider power modifiers more impressive modifications than audio/visual modifications simply because of the amount of "engineering" and/or fabrication required.
The car show that the SACC puts on each year has 10 different categories to judge each vehicle by, separating out the interior from the engine from the trunk from the wheels, etc., etc.
But I've always thought it funny when a car show judge takes a look at a stock interior on a newer vehicle and gives the interior a 10 out of 10 rating. That's probably the source of most of your frustrations.
If I were to host a car show, I would make it absolutely clear to the judges that giving someone in the modified class a 10 in the interior category for a stock interior should be absolutely frowned upon. And on the flip side of that, giving someone with just an engine dress-up kit a 10 in the engine category would also be frowned upon.
But regardless, if you see major favoritism going on at a car show you've entered, the best thing you can do is stop going to that particular event. That kind of stuff will kill an event faster than anything else, because no one will want to come back except their buddies.
