I really enjoy the meditative aspects of cycling and just being out on the road and knowing I'm going somewhere under my own power. I like the feeling of speed and power when everything is good and getting out of the saddle to get over a climb. So that's why I hate the idea of loading the bike down with 4x panniers and 100lbs of gear because it changes the bike from a swift thing into a beast of burden almost rooted to the ground. If I lost the excitement of that speed I would loose a lot of the joy I get from touring.
I'm with you on just about all of that. And 100lbs would definitely be too much. But I'm just back from a camping trip on which I had 50lbs of gear, and was still able to get out of the saddle on the climbs...
However, as to the OP's question, I agree with you 100%. The ride, and its meditative nature, is a huge part of the pleasure.