That kind of makes sense, it's like how rock-climbing on a rope is scary until you actually fall (or descend) and can feel the tension of the rope actually supp

That kind of makes sense, it's like how rock-climbing on a rope is scary until you actually fall (or descend) and can feel the tension of the rope actually supporting you. Even on a gut level, feeling the plane bounce against the "road" gives you a confirmation that, yes, in fact, it is bouncing against something (even if that something is just air under the wings).