Popcorn ceilings are the cheaping-out homeowner/ lazy drywaller way of dodging the cost of smooth ceilings.
We “inherited” (bought) 9’3” ceilings in our current with the weird feather-duster texturing. They’re on the list for fixing, but not way up there. $$$
We had 8’ popcorn ceilings (“we” meaning practice husband and I) in our last house together, and DD#1 was a goalkeeper in high school. Soccer top goalposts are 8’ off the ground, and she practiced her defense against high shots on goal on our ceiling. By the time she left for college, our ceilings looked as if upside-down Zambonis had randomly polished off the popcorn.
And you are absolutely correct: whatever that popcorn is made of, it goes EVERYWHERE.