Is my anti-skating too strong.

One added point, I think has not addressed. 
The OP is mentioning an Ortofon Quintet Black cartridge, yes?

This might play into the MC / Lewn discussion too. 

For some interesting reason - when checking for the most suitable anti-skating force with this cartridge, running it on a test record with a non-groove (smooth) section, in about the middle of the normally grooved section, you will find that even by just skating on a smooth vinyl surface the t-arm, cartridge, cantilever, stylus assembly gets pulled toward the platter centre.
The way MC related, and why, as due to the geometry of gimbled t-arms. 

So, a stylus running in a groove have nothing to do as such, in the skating force/pull matter, yes?
But the main point now: this particular cartridge using a Shibata stylus, for some reason, needs by comparison to other cartridges, a lot more anti-skating force to compensate the skating force/pull present. 

On the SME V t-arm, the anti-skating dialable calibrated force is practically always pretty much equal to the vertical tracking force, as I many, msny times could confirm. 

The Ortofon Quintet Black and incidentally also the Cadenza Black require quite some unusually more anti-skating force to ballance their skating pull action, when tracking at the optimal 2.3 gram VTF. 

Why?...
It seems to have to do with the stylus shape, being more pointed than many other styli - my best guess... and I might be wrong, it having to do more with the relatively high 2.3g VTF? 

The anti-skating force dial almost needs to be set as high as 3 (g)! to balance the skating pull. 

So, where does this fit into the MC/Lewn discussion? 

Will the skating pull be less if the stylus runs in a record groove? 

Somehow I do not think so, and why have different styli or a highish VTF different relative skating pull? 

Just some unanswered question - and related to the OP Quintet Black.cartridge also. 

His actual question clearly having been unequivocally answered: using zero anti-skating force, when performing cartridge alignment, an absolute given. 
Michélle 🇿🇦 

@millercarbon 😅
I do admire your patience good man, though obviously not everyone shares this notion. 

And that a Shibata stylus shows more skating pull/force on a blank record surface, "due to the design of its sides when in a groove..." 

Beats me, all I have to say. 🙄

Michélle 🇿🇦 

What we have here is, it seems, that what one WANTS to believe - one WILL believe. 

A case of Cognitive Dissonance - maybe my own? 

Speaking from experience MC is correct that point A the stylus tip to point B the fulcrum of the tonearm bearing (horizontally) plus the overhang will create the skating force/pull to the centre of the record, the spindle. 
A case of basic geometry -. 

Either hokey stick, S shape, or straight tone-arm makes no difference in the equation.
At all. 

Now, to damage a blank record by skating over it, you will need the kind of VTA and a steel needle of some old Victrola Phonograph - not a VTF of max 2.5 gram, my take.

Maybe a damaged stylus will do at 5 + gram VTF...?!? 😏 

BTW, I own an old DECCA test record with such a damaged blank section, which surely was caused by what I suggested above. 

Lastly, yes the idea of the cantilever deflection observation 'can' work, so long the compliance is reasonably/pretty high - and the tone-arm has at least some sort of lateral damping - or a slightly stiff(ish) horizontal arm bearing? 

At 16 cu (compliance units) and below, one will hardly notice any permanent defection.
At 20 - 40 cu it will be visible and can/could be used to set the anti-skate force...

This includes to watch out for the cantilever 'squiggle' when the stylus/cantilever/cartridge/headshell/tone-arm (avoiding more cognitive dissonance) is lowered by a damped arm-lift into the start groove. 

Happy listening 🎶 

M. 🇿🇦 

Cognitive Dissonance... to say it again. 

No logical, rational argument will overcome it, as it locks one into ones belief system. 

MC, what we have here is just that now. 
So how to overcome Cognitive Dissonance? 

By telling the opposing party(ies) a good joke or tell them you love them! 🥰... i.e. to stop make those opposing feel defensive!

This, despite their stubborn opposition to logic, rationality, physics, geometry, newtons law, et al. Die using diverting arguments to obfuscate the issue at hand. 

Then maybe, just maybe, the opposing positions will be actually prepared to hear you, and stop 'sand-bagging'. 

Psychology is needed to let rationality come through! 
It's the human condition - not taught during 101 Physics, Geometry and Maths. 😏

BTW, it also seems so many folk were *seriously* at odds with Newton at his time! (Must have known too few good jokes?) 😝 

Michélle 🇿🇦