what validation do you get from being cocky as hell winning a stomp

Agree, it's much more fun to be cocky and talk a bit of tasteful trash in a game that could go either way.

Higher stakes.

I only talk trash after losing really hard, as a joke

I only trash talk if they warrant it by talking smack first, though most of the time I just say cheesy stuff to lighten the mood like "Git gud you frickin blueberry"