Came across a link today on the digital native/digital immigrant (http://clips.lis.uiuc.edu/2006_03.htm) that reminded me your comment is somewhat related to Kuhlthau’s Information Search Process (ISP) model, developed in 1991. [Should have thought of it sooner since I teach the thing! :-) ]
Seems there are implications here that tie to your comment and learning games although the focus is library jass.
Re: your model — am not sure I agree that motivation has to decrease unless applied to task accomplishment rather than interest.
Shows model in table format: tasks, thought, feelings, actions, strategy
http://library.humboldt.edu/ic/general_competency/kuhlthau.html
Information search challenges for designers
http://www.asis.org/Bulletin/Feb-99/kuhlthau.html

And it seemed to me that this is indeed a link worth pursuing. I’d also talked about the experience I hoped for (initial apprehension, wry recognition, etc), but decided to see if I could capture it in a graphic (my personal learning approach).