These discussions tend to usually have an axis that missed what I see as the real point, to some degree. It's not necessarily about one side that wants real strict rules, and the other side that doesn't give a flip (Though there are probably some folks that feel as they do for those reasons, granted). What, to me, this issue is fundamentally about, is doing things in the best time and the best place.
So, to me, what one has to think about, in my view, is what is the ideal way to do things in terms of timing, that is: What creates most the best experience on a spiritual level and also on a more secular level? Honestly, I look at it, and I think it's more enjoyable to do it in the traditional Catholic way, and creates a more magical spiritual overtone to the holidays.
Here's some of my reasoning:
1. Advent offers a time of anticipation that is missing from the current way Christmas is celebrated. Right now, Christmas is foisted on people before Thanksgiving, sometimes even in October, before you even start to really look forward to it. With Advent, excitement builds and Christmas is welcome and something to be excited about when it finally arrives.
2. Having Christmas Day followed by 11 more days of Christmas is I think very in tune with the human condition -- we built to the holiday and have a day of big celebration when it is finally here, then we keep on celebrating to a lesser degree (Because we've had the big one) for a reasonable period of time in the days that follow, eat the leftovers, enjoy the decorations and some songs but still get back somewhat to our usual routine, etc.. Right now, secularly, we do the reverse, get sickened by an early onslaught we didn't have time to look forward to so that by the "big day" December 25th, we don't really care much and want to get it over with, and then tear everything down as quickly as possible thereafter -- Radio stations start playing Christmas music in early or mid-November or earlier and then stop on a dime sometimes as early as the evening of December 25th! The way that society does Christmas now just gets people sick of it before the time they are supposed to be most excited, and lasts too long to sustain for most people, and then it is over completely in a puff of smoke and people drag their trees to the curb. Building anticipation and then having 12 days with the biggest first gets people excited at the proper time and tones down on "holiday fatigue" and doesn't end things in a sudden jolt that's a shock to the system.
Just my 2 cents. And since the American dollar is weak right now in the global economic market, that's probably only a penny where many forum members reside.