Aperture fever is common among all amateurs, but it is particularly strong in deep sky observers because what you can see increases dramatically with aperture. In variable star observing however, you do not need a big scope to see time, it is right there on your wrist watch, in plain sight. There are many unaided-eye variables and many more binocular variables. A small telescope puts thousands of variables within your reach. Telescope aperture is not as important.
Light pollution is very detrimental to deep sky observing.
The difference is so amazing that many amateurs only observe at dark sky sites, away from their home. In contrast, variable stars are not bothered as much by light pollution. For amateur telescopes, a variable star is just a point of light, high magnification darkens the sky background allowing you to see the variable. Many, if not most, variable star observers observe from their back yards. You can not do variable star observing very well by yourself.