We felt the same, there is a special kind of feeling when you start carving your own paths and solutions! My partner in crime defines it as "the thrilling excitement of juggling many plates in your hands" and coming out victorious after having defeated hordes of bug monsters xD
Game jams are definitely an invaluable tool for gaining experience, coming up with new solutions and challenging yourself with concepts you hadn't yet explored.
We were very impressed by the dialogue system you developed in your game and think you did an amazing job!