that sort of thing gobsmacks me too!!! i really do find it unbelieveable!!
one of my main pet hates at group(im a target member) is being asked ' what's your secret?'......i usually stand there,jaw on floor and a good few seconds before i can pretty much only stutter....nothing i just read my books and followed it!!! and then its like ooooooooo!
i really cant believe how often i am asked that,quite often by long standing members like you describe too.i never lost a tremendous earth shattering amount and my losses were always smallish but i was consistent.....i was consistent because i stuck to it!