You know what players actually want? They want to feel like they're in a living world that reacts to them logically. When they pour oil on the floor and light it, they want the enemies to slip or burn. When they befriend the blacksmith, they want better prices or a tip about the bandit camp. When they ignore the warning signs and charge into the dragon's lair at level three, they want to face real danger.
Traditional games sometimes protect players from their own choices. DNs let the world respond authentically. The dragon doesn't scale to their level. The dragon is what it is. If they're smart, they'll run, negotiate, or come back stronger. That's not punishment, that's respect. You're treating them like people in a real world, not characters in a balanced video game encounter.
Here's an example that shows the difference. A player wants to intimidate a guard by grabbing his spear and snapping it in half. A traditional game checks the rules for breaking objects, calls for a Strength check against the spear's hardness rating, and adjudicates mechanically. A DN thinks about the story. Is this player character strong enough that this would be impressive? Is this guard the type to be cowed by displays of strength, or will it make him call for backup? What does this spear mean to him - is it standard issue or a family heirloom? The ruling becomes: "Sure, you can snap it. Strength Chance Roll. If you succeed, he's rattled but also now weaponless and desperate. How do you want to handle this?"
See the difference?
The DN ruling creates forward momentum and consequence. The mechanical ruling just tells you if the spear breaks.