It's ever been thus
Especially with highly anticipated figures.
What keeps me going is that once I have the figure, I know I'll not *really* be able to remember the actual *feeling* of wanting the figure. Sure, I'll remember it intellectually. As a sort of story. But I'll be having so much fun with the figure, I'll forget the "before time". Eventually, I'll not even remember what the before time really *felt* like.
It's like being a kid, unwrapping the presents, and immediately forgetting the anticipation of the weeks before.
Plus, I think about the developers. Pretty sure everyone in this thread has been a dev (contractor, artist, craftsperson, maker, pundit, techie, etc.) of some sort. The pressure. The trudge. The "almost done". The death march. The "this is never going to be done". The squashing or do over of something that won't work no matter what you do. The comments from various interested (and disinterested parties). The concerned friends and family that just wish you'd call it done and get some balance. The light at the end of the tunnel. The "holy sh*t, this works/looks damn good!". The ups, downs, time lost head down endless cycle. The gleeful work with other devs. The arguments over arcane and ultimately forgotten (but very important at the time) things. The slow approach to an ever moving deadline. Exhaustion competing with adrenaline. Finally, the delivery. The "can't sleep" joy. The rush of complements and the hurt of criticisms. And the crash into a sleep of the utterly spent.
I balance that against my mere anticipation as a consumer. Keeps me balanced (such as my balance is). Appreciation of the work, seeded with dreams, sustained with hope. I can wait
Besides, I figure my nervous foot tapping can easily be cured with the right therapy. That failing, I'll just hang out with people who don't mind it.