Excellent story and connection to the game of chess. You pull it together perfectly that is a great perspective to have about the process to improve at chess.
That was a funny story, and yes, a lot of chess games are a bit like that.
I think "lamppost chess" is perhaps a cousin of "hope chess" . i.e. make a move and then wait with bated breath for what happens next. I suspect most mid level players recognise that they should really be thinking at least 3-ply on every move rather than on every 10th move, but we don't do it anyway because the drama is addictive.