I agree! impact, touch, rhythm, and sound don’t feel purely physical, they come across as layered experiences. That’s probably why something like impact play can feel richer, more complex, even aesthetic rather than just intense.
I also feel like subs come to it for very different reasons. Some do it to please the dommes, some genuinely enjoy the sensation, and some might not even like the pain itself but use it as a way to feel present or alive.