"There is only one way and it's her way." Sounds like my mom.
ZM, I missed your secret sauce step when it comes to green seeds in your past posts! Explains why I did not have success with my limited attempt with green seeds! I know the milkweed seed growers do the same with fully matured seeds to skip stratification and also get a month's jump on it.
I would love to read the posts if you don't mind posting the link, 2K1B. As for not pinching, so many cut flower growers swear by pinching everything when they are young. Maybe pinch some and not others and compare.