Did medieval builders really strive for light/height when it came to building cathedrals,or was it a competition between cities?

Who could build the highest cathedral was partly based on competitions among various towns and cities.

Both. The results are amazing. The Great Pyramid weighs more than all English Cathedrals together. I love them and I am no Christian but they are my heritage.

It depends on fashions - light/height is perpendicular. Fashions in architecture come and go, technology moves on.

Towns and cities did not pay for the Church - the church estates paid for thew church.

Local guilds did contribute though - they bought the use of chapels.

they were sightings for travellers you could see them for miles they were to impress and they do they represented the power and might of god enormous even with our modern technology they are still amazing after working all my life in construction I am still in awe when I walk into them the skill is beyond belief

Does it matter if your'e trying to put out the best product or your customer just wants the best product?