- There are tons of positive "post mortem" [http://www.gamasutra.com/features/postmortem/] write ups on gamasutra, but the ones with problems are usually more valuable. One recent example of "doing it right" I remember was the XCOM:Enemy Unknown remake. Check their GDC talks!
- One thing that makes games special is pushing the envelope. Yes, you can make a game on a very solid stack. But it won't stand out.
- Game coders think service people are mad also: How can you use a database that you do not fully understand? You don't even have the source? Using a framework or library or cloud that you do not 100% understand seems "cowboy" to them.
- Games are "fire and forget". That means technical debt is very different. It is bad at the start of a 3 year cycle, but at the end it is totally ok.
- Not mentioned by you but important to point out: While working on games is great for learning and unlike anything else it is also a terrible industry for coders. Insane crunch time. Low pay.