Thanks. I tried to justify the button mashy element by reminding myself of Surf Champ from the 80s where you were given a plastic surfboard to place on your keyboard which was supposed to feedback its motion to the game. It was terrible TBH, but with the kick flipping left and right I was just rolling my wrist left and right once a second on the num keys.
There isn't much reward for going fast. You save oxygen, but speed is dangerous and you miss the powerups which the basekit diver is sorely in need of.