Of course, trading pieces when material up is a well-known and legitimate strategy particularly favored by endgame artists. So, that's just a style you have to play against sometimes.
But trading pieces just to clear the board? I've seen that only in newer players who simply haven't learned yet that that doesn't work in the long run. I don't see anything insidious about it. It's just a learning stage that most players go through briefly, I think--like trying to catch people with the Scholar's Mate, or trying to copy your opponent's moves, or playing 1. ... a6 followed by 2. ... h6--that sort of thing.
But it can be kind of fun and enlightening to have to play against someone like that from time to time. For example, nobody has tried the Scholar's Mate on me in many years. Will I really still remember the very best way to refute it, next time I see it?
Sacrifices are to chess what the Drum Solo is to musicians. It's about saying 'I have a bigger **** than you'.
Sacrifices can be beautiful as can drum solos. But people who desire to play either to excess are generally going to be egomaniacs. Not everybody, but most. You can't brag to your mates how played a simply won endgame, but you can when you sac 3 pieces for mate. Hence egomania