I played most of my games I've played here in 3 or 5 minute blitz, and I think that while there is a pretty mixed bag among competition you'll see here regarding the spectrum you're referencing, one consistent theme that underlies either end of said spectrum is that most people play reactionary chess in these time controls. One person will make a move either creates or appears to create a threat, and instead of finding the plan the position calls for, people react to the idea they conveyed by trying to defend it, and possibly reciprocate with another apparent threat either simultaneously or once they have 'tempo.'
What I found as my rating rose is that people do what I just mentioned above, but with mostly increasing tactical breadth (finding more good moves even just a few moves ahead) and a little more tactical depth, until you reach a certain rough barrier where more and more players apply positional principles accurately in the context of the tactics that arise from their games.
There are tactical slugfests (though less sloppy), and there is adherence to pawn structure and quiet maneuvering, but these are not the way forward, though it may seem. Longer time controls for an extended period of time will help your blitz as you will already have learned the elements of planning in a position, and you not only will find more sound positions, but better tactics that arise from better positions.
I've posted about this before, but again, am surprised at my progress in 3 and 5 min blitz. I've been steadily making my way fro 1200 to 1500 (made it before in 5' blitz, then now am doing it in 3' blitz - seems harder to me).
I find that most of my wins come from games where I focus more on solid pawn structures and solid positions, evenat the cost of missing a bunch of tactics, than compared to going for an all-out tactical slugfest in really sloppy positions.
I honestly thought it would be more of a tactical slugfest - I will add that in bullet (I'm worse at that), it really DOES seem to come down to a tactical slugfest at my level - you can make really goofy sacrifices and horrible pawn moves that are hard to punish in 1' blitz.
What do you 3' 5' minute blitzers find?