I think not being able to aim with mouse and only having one chance to jump adds to gameplay skill in timing, making sure every press counts.
Also, if you manage to win, the game turns from a rage game into a speed-running game, and improving the time it takes you to beat the game is part of the gameplay loop, which is why there aren't any checkpoints.
But do agree that the overall difficulty is a bit too high! Thank you very much for playing our game, and for your feedback!
Btw, glad someone has acknowledged how the camera follows the shovelhead and the player, I put a good amount of work into just that feature :)