In some ways, engaging on war without boots on the ground can cause more anger and retaliation.

Was just thinking about how Anwar Sadat started the 1973 war and this led to some positive outcomes, like peace with Israel and the return of Sinai, and that this might be similar.

The major difference was of course, as you say, that this was a bombing raid. And people really, really hate being bombed to an extent that the people in countries dishing it out probably have no idea. They don't mind something like bombing a nuclear facility quite as much, but the Iranians will try their best to connect America to what the Israelis did, which is reasonable because they were backing Israel to the hilt.

If we're "just bombing" someone, they can't reach us. So they'll resort to terrorism.

Bombing is so easy and normalized, with possible consequences so far in the future to not appear related, that it's been the solution to everything.