in my opinion, it's more interesting to win "Most creative" than to be placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd, because it means that your icon is different from all the others !
i've already won "most unique" or "most creative" in some icontest and i love that !!

and you're right, most of the banner-makers are so talented, sometimes i want to win something just to have a banner lol

PS : i love your happy halloween icon ;)