Hello,
Thank you for the detailed and nice feedback! Indeed, you have thoroughly analyzed the game.
Sure, as you said, feeling impatient followed by the feeling of satisfaction was an intended consequence through level design. Right after getting a new ability, you can know the main new opened routes to take if you have been paying attention. I am glad that you understood this!
And yes, I admit that sometimes I felt forced to build a couple of rooms that felt a bit filler to connect two more interesting parts. I hope that this did not pull you off the experience though.
And also yes, thinking the assassin is your friend is now something common among players :D We will need to amend this.
I encourage you to finish the game! You may find a sequence break to acquire abilities in different orders. And you will find abilities such as riding on those wind tunnels, and even Teleport! I think you will like it. All followed by a final boss.
Keep in touch,
Cheers