...and even after I eventually completed it, it left a bit of a sour taste for what was otherwise one of my best ever gaming experiences overall...
I agree wholeheartedly. I'm sorry to say that the zeppelin escort is very anticlimactic even though it was designed (thought/meant) to be a "spectacular" ending. I succeeded on only 2 of my 4 charcter runs. Looking back, I know I was
very lucky on those 2 times. I actually gave up on the other 2 even though I knew what to do and what not to do. I love this game as a whole but I hate its aspects that heavily rely on luck just as much.