I think a big part of it is that they're dangerous. It's fun to experience just a tinge of fear from how big they sound, or even just from being near the little street versions. It's a (relatively) safe way for us to experience something that would otherwise be terror inducing explosives.
I mean, safe aside from all the accidents that happen every year. Like kids blowing off fingers or what have you. I mean I get it, but having any random Joe be able to buy a ton of explosives then go home, drink, and play with them seems needlessly risky. Especially in dry areas where fires can start or around large groups of people.
They are explosives. They are less safe than most sports, movies, video games, concerts, tons of things. This is like saying "yes, doing knife throwing tricks at people is less safe than pillows". Of course it is, what bar are you setting. Come on, fireworks are literally playing with explosives. Children and drunk people alike.
It's almost like our collective experience is so boring and gloomy and so stressful for our little bodies and brains that we as a species are prone to mercurial outbursts where we act recklessly as a way to prove our existence to ourselves
And you’re in your 60s or something, wise with age and experience? You’ve at least got half a century under your belt I hope, to criticize the concept of traditions generally?