Between the stacks, musing on SATs

So as a victim of the January 22nd SAT, I received my scores less than a week ago. Not really going to share them here, just because I hate how score-obsessed my peers and I have all become; suffice to say that they were fine, but the EXACT SAME scores as my PSAT from September, which is more than a little frustrating. I guess just one practice test a week before doesn't constitute much preparation, huh?

Kids in my grade have asked each other multiple times "Wuddya get?"and I've pretty much kept silent. but honestly, that's not much better. Why is it that we are all so greedy for this information, and so self-conscious about it at the same time? I really do want to know what scores people recieved but
A)   anyone asking has probably already come up with a fake number in their mind about 150 points higher than they actually received and

B)   in return for that info, it's customary to give your own, which I would rather not inflate for the sake of my sanity and awkwardness.

So why, why the sudden February tenth freak out? The curse on us juniors is that these four digits have supposedly become a litmus test for who is your greatest competition. Insane, right? And who, might you ask, has built up the expectations of the SAT? Because whoever it is, they sure have made me feel like this "dog fight" just got a whole lot more complicated.

Follow Up: bought 2 new SAT books, signed up for a student-run SAT prep course at MIT (link below, it's actually pretty good), then kicked myself for spending $40 on massive SAT books better suited as bricks in Hadrian's wall than studying. Have resolved to try 1 practice test a week.

http://esp.mit.edu/learn/SATPrep/index.html