Seriously... I just completed the spaceship sequence and I'm too mad to even react properly (per HN standards). I knew this was gonna happen and it did happen. Shame on me.
Really enjoyed the game the whole way through, but I agree with other people on this thread, the ending (or lack of) kinda ripped my heart out. Glad I took some screenshots before flying off into space.
http://bit.ly/17K3a1D - Building Screen
http://bit.ly/12tUk37 - Production Screen
http://bit.ly/17K3ldl - Dusty Path Screen (After getting Compass)
http://bit.ly/14Eyk4u - Map Screen
http://bit.ly/17sIVSm - Starship Screen
Sorry, no screenshots of end sequence - was too busy dodging falling ASCII characters.
Though I found the sudden restart pointless, and I think it took away from the ending a little. Unless the point of course was that you crash, and find yourself in a room with a fire that's nearly gone out... [kinda like that book of the guy who rhymes with Peevin' Ping haha]
The first time I saw that "You're not coming back disclaimer", I knew: "Oh boy, they're not gonna throw me a parade when I get in space, nor generate another level... I'm just gonna get back in a dark room and start again. All this for...this!?"
"TVTropes Will Ruin Your Life"
Happy to know the game ends in the way that you described and I didn't miss anything.