Yeh, it's definitely the entertainment industry. That, and I think some people (AKA kids and tools) think that NYC and California are the height of glamour and coolness, and that nothing glamorous or cool can ever happen anywhere else ever. 

At the same time, I could see why people wouldn't want to RP in their local areas all the time. I mean, half of the fun is learning about new shit and researching. It would just be nice to see more of these things in places like... Minnesota, or Mexico City, or the Florida Keyes. Places with a general reputation that isn't just bland commercialism.