Vampires Don't Sparkle!

I am by no means a horror purist. If a writer wants to change their definition of a particular monster or creature so that it better fits their vision, then who am I to stop them or criticize them? Considering that the popular monsters of today come from folklore all over the world, it makes perfect sense that not every writer will chose to include some aspect of their popular mythology. Having said that, I do believe that there are some rules that need to be followed always: zombies don't run and vampires don't sparkle. I would have thought that both of these two rules are self-explanatory, but I suppose that they aren't. My evidence? Twilight:

"Edward in the sunlight was shocking. I couldn't get used to it, though I'd been staring at him all afternoon. His skin, white despite the faint flush from yesterday's hunting trip, literally sparkled, like thousands of tiny
diamonds were embedded in the surface. He lay perfectly still in the grass, his shirt open over his sculpted, incandescent chest, his scintillating arms bare. His glistening, pale lavender lids were shut, though of course he didn't sleep. A perfect statue, carved in some unknown stone, smooth like marble, glittering like crystal."(260).

My problem with this isn't the fact that he's in the sun. Like I said, if a writer wants to change aspects of popular mythology in order for a monster to fit their vision, then that's great. Besides, early vampire folklore doesn't even mention the sun. I'm pretty sure the sun-allergy doesn't come up until Bram Stoker, actually. Nor is it the purple prose, although it's rather dreadful as well.

No, my problem with this is the fact that he's sparkling. Last time I checked, vampires were supposed to be frightening. Perhaps this is just me, but I don't find sparkly objects terrifying. When was the last time you saw somebody running away in abject terror from a diamond? That's what I thought. Glitter and sparkles have never scared anybody ever. So, why on earth would anybody ever make a vampire sparkle? Really, I don't understand it. Edward Cullen might as well be covered in pink satin while riding a unicorn. The sparkle-factor completely eradicates any potential to frighten anybody.

What happened to making vampires badasses? Why did that suddenly stop? If I wanted a character that was sparkly, I would have watched My Little Pony. I would not have picked up a book about vampires. Vampires are supposed to be creatures who were damned from their search for immortality. They are humans who have become un-human. And that is why they are terrifying. What the hell does sparkling have to do with that?

(Pictured: Nosferatu. Not Pictured: Sparkles.)

Is it too much to ask for vampires who actually deserve the title? And, if it isn't, then how long am I going to have to wait before vampires start being vampires again? How long until this sparkling menace goes away?