ExploderWizard
Hero
That may be true. But, as you note - is any *single* explanation likely to be sufficient to fully explain *everyone's* likes and dislikes? No!
Having fun is not a nostalgia-driven need, but nostalgia can help drive fun! And I say that it is quite possible to be nostalgic for things you never left - all that is required is happy past associations.
In OSR threads, folks (Perhaps not you, EW) often treat the mention of nostalgia as if it is some dirty word or something that must be excised from the discussion. For a hobby entertainment game, nostalgia is JUST AS GOOD a reason as any other, and should be embraced with all the other reasons!
I don't consider nostalgia to be a dirty word or anything it just doesn't really fit as reason to continue doing something that would otherwise not be enjoyable. If one were to be nostalgic about something it might prompt them to revisit it but if that something didn't offer further enjoyment on its own merits then the revisit would remain brief.