I was traumatized on that day, and I haven't been the same since. (Which I guess is good, since I was a wee lad of 11 at the time.)
Never held a grudge against Password, only ABC -- for quite a few years.
I suspect that, all things considered, the fact that it did end is what made the magic last. If it had continued on through the years, I suspect my interest would have waned instead of mounted. The excitement of seeing it come on in syndication later in the 70s was as palpable as when it first aired.