To me, showing off in an airplane means conducting an efficient flight as planned and avoiding the worst weather, culminating in a smooth landing and an on-time arrival. For others, it might mean loops and rolls, flying inverted or a seemingly endless series of other aerobatic maneuvers visible to spectators. Each operation carries its own risks.
For example, the limited aerobatics I’ve flown over the years have been conducted in airplanes certificated for it and at altitudes supplying a healthy margin for error. Meanwhile, a VFR-only pilot who recently accompanied me on a long IFR cross-country expressed some apprehension at not seeing the ground for hours at a time. Perhaps familiarity breeds contempt, but I’m very comfortable droning along when the clag extends to the surface and an engine failure means scant seconds to find a landing area after breaking out.
