I came back to play again.
This time I was able to get the dig claws easily, as I think was intended. Below, there's a gold circle that I couldn't seem to do anything with, and an altar I couldn't get to. In the other direction, by the NPC who tells you about standing in shallow water, I could not manage to make the jumps across the platforms without running the candyfloss into spawning water particles. I can *see* that there seems to be a break to make the jumps during, I just couldn't manage it, the timing needed was too tight.
HOWEVER. Spam-jumping allowed me to double-jump to get to a button that let me kinda... bypass that one hallway that was giving me trouble, so I was able to see the rest of the game. I got the items, dropped off the Gift, and got outside.
Honestly, if not for that one hallway over the water, the rest was very doable, nice little puzzley elements with the valve.
The ending screen is lovely; I'm glad I came back.