Quench timing dogma got me for 5 years until one weld test

Everyone online keeps saying you gotta quench blades right at non-magnetic or you ruin the steel. I followed that rule strict for 5 years, even bought a fancy magnet on a stick from a supply shop in Boise. Then I took a weld test for a custom gate job last month and the inspector said my edge was brittle on a leaf spring knife I had laying around. He asked what I was doing, I told him my process, and he just shook his head. Turns out for the high carbon stuff I use, a 3 second wait past non-magnetic gives way better toughness, especially on thinner stock. I ran three more blades that night with the delay and snapped none on the bench test. Has anyone else ditched the instant quench habit after real world failures, or am I the only slow learner here?