Yes, but the chances of me reaching 1-Dan level of play is slim as it is, and it most certainly wouldn't have happened when the game was that new. If, for example, I had only ever seen a 17x17 board (as early players had), it would take very extensive playing (more than I've done as of yet) to even consider the possibility that the 19x19 board was better for the nuanced reasons you have mentioned. I mean, really, I've read it and I know what you're saying, but as a Go player (a very bad go player) it's harder for me to translate that into actual game experience.
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SuperNiceDog had a super nice bracket too.