The satisfaction is real but it's usually spread out over a long time. Game development can require patience, and things happen slowly. Usually there isn't one moment when it all is suddenly working together. In design diaries I talk a bit about "scaffold" designs which are loose ideas that need to be there so the rest of the game can work. Since you can only do so much, a lot of these can be in place for a while. Even once big system ideas are finalized, stuff can feel really off until it's tuned correctly or more iteration happens.
That said, I do gain a lot of satisfaction when someone gets the game, and is hitting all the emotional beats that I want.
