In fact, setting deadlines is beneficial for the developer himself. Not in terms of public image, but in terms of self-control. If you are doing any kind of work, you must set the boundaries of your competence. Exclusively for the development of self-discipline. As you said, it's stressful and without setting any limits for yourself, you can just hide from the problems. But in the long run, it doesn't do anything good for your success. It is a fundamental necessity to overcome difficulties if you want to develop yourself. Otherwise, you will stagnate and risk falling into procrastination. The sad truth of life.
And as for all this grumbling and crying, I sincerely believe that, in the paradigm in which we are now, the developer has no obligations either to ordinary players or to patrons. There are pros and cons to this position, but that's another story.