Dear Joker:
Well, let's picture the tournament as "the big day".
Most people, as mentioned prior, work toward tournaments and other events. Why? I don't know maybe it has to do with people working well with preset deadlines. I know that's how I tend to work.
Leading to the event people will try new models which can mean just purchased and assembled that day. Of course, it could also mean any other reason it's not painted. The most plausible reason is that people are trying out units and configurations and once they have it lined up, they start to paint it. As everyone seems to agree, painting takes effort and wasted effort is never welcome.
Now some of us, do have a personal pride in having things painted. I am now refusing to play with models that are not painted in WM. This happens to be fine as I have all the basics of my army covered but it really gives me motivation to keep painting. To each his / her own though and people must remember that.
Also, something that is pretty funny about this thread: A player I know, who is a better painter than anyone in this thread, is running a new army and is all bare metal and plastic for now. Based on the poor observation skills and conclusion jumping, he is lazy. In reality, he is just getting his force assembled and then will mass paint them shortly to a higher standard than most hobbyist could hope for.
To JimLeary:
lolwut