enjoyable mechanics; to answer your "Question of the day"
If you want to have "punishments"; I would try out a ranking system based on getting hit/keeping flower combo up (combo drops if you get hit or something, or if you take too long between picking the next flower).
Basically like in the game "Dustforce", no punishment for doing bad, but rewarded for being perfect.
Maybe getting S rank can unlock levels that you otherwise wouldn't have access to or something.