GRAMMAR DETAIL

だけに

all the more because · given that

Indicates that a special circumstance makes a following feeling or result even stronger.

Examples

長く待っただけに、合格の知らせが本当にうれしかった。

Because I had waited so long, I was all the happier to hear that I had passed.

長年使った道具だけに、手放すのは惜しい。

Given that I had used the tool for many years, I was reluctant to let it go.

Structure: だけに makes a special circumstance the reason that a following feeling or result is all the stronger.
Basic usage: 長く待っただけに、合格の知らせが本当にうれしかった。 describes the long wait making the news of passing especially welcome.

Different from limiting quantity with だけ
- 長く待っただけにうれしい makes the wait a reason for greater happiness. だけ in 一時間だけ待った limits the duration, so it has a different role from the reason expression with following に.
Strengthening depends on the situation
- 期待しただけに残念だ makes expectations intensify disappointment, while 待っただけにうれしい makes waiting intensify happiness. だけに does not choose the emotion's direction; the important relationship is the circumstance strengthening the response.