Adults tend to repress their pleasure. Sad to say, I think we become adults only through disappointment, grief, and lies. So of course gradually we become tough, less sensitive.
All I have is an opinion - I don't deal in Truth.
What better reward than to see others excited by your work?
The way to find what the mainstream will do tomorrow is to associate with the lunatic fringe today.
But as you say in English, c'est la vie!
I think it is better for societies if no one dominates forever.