[marifjeren]

> why must this result in less joy

Well I think you answered it:

To become a developer, I disciplined my mind to do impressive and useful things. The resulting feelings were pride and speciality and therefore sometimes joy.

And those feelings are gone now that software engineering has become a low-discipline, low-barrier to entry activity.

Am I immoral or vain for having derived joy from that -- I think is another matter, and one which doesn't resurrect the joy no matter how it's answered