You have nothing to apologize for. I was simply commenting that if you were attempting to look less troll, I think you had the opposite effect.
As far as the substantive issue: Many things are “only” tradition, and yet have the force of halacha. I have no idea what the halacha and minhag is in this area, but I do know it is not what we do and not what we should be doing, and that anyone who wants to follow the people we should be following, doesn’t do it.
If you are looking for a halachic discussion of the issue, I have nothing to add.