I do think though that the long playing time is an important factor in the emotional devastation.

Considering other venerable classics with similar dynamics, I’ve seen far more people be far saltier about betrayal at the end of a game of Twilight Imperium (even though there can only be one winner) than they do in something like Cosmic Encounter (where they could have played for an almost guaranteed joint win).

Much easier to laugh off a 20-30 minute game and go again, than watching an entire day of scheming and planning go up in smoke at the hands of a supposed ally.