I suppose if its true it would be because you have less mountains (less access) and also because the ticket prices are in 3-4 hundreds of dollars. I'm interested in hearing the locals' take on this.
(Edit) For me (an european), It's a really big contrast, because here most of us ski since we re kids and it would be weird to not go skiing at least a couple times a season even as not a wealthy family.
Not sure about the flair, but I feel its mostly a cultural question.