For a lot of people 10k/1yr is the better choice, this is typically people who only do low mileage as the engine will gunk up a lot more with longlife intervals.
Anyone can change the intervals, not only VW - you only need a service tool like VCDS.
Driving it spiritedly does not reduce intervals much (or in my case at all - I get the full 18,641 miles or 30,000km), mine still wants to have a service twice a year despite longlife though.