Likely. At what point do we consider a kill an "accomplishment?" When neither pilot HOs? When neither pilot is rusty, flying a plane that's a poor match, and using way too much fuel?
One man's trash is another man's gold I suppose.
When one feels a sense of accomplishment it was an accomplishment for him.
For me, any individual 1v1 kill is always an accomplishment if the pilot I flew against put up a good fight and made me earn it. I also feel accomplishment when I am able to control multi plane engagements/situations. Whether that be a dogfight against 3-4, or when I am hovering above a swarm and have 1 or 2 coalt/above me that I also need to deal with.
RTBing and landing is necessary because it completes the success. I would use the analogy of eating something delicious. The taste itself is great but the act of swallowing is completion.