VTF is widely misunderstood. Its not about stylus wear. Its about positioning the coils within the magnetic field. That is why its a range. The correct procedure is to set vtf somewhere within the range and listen. Then adjust one way or the other and listen again. In other words the correct procedure is to adjust by ear. Just like everything else with a turntable, by the way.
So you did everything right, and wound up a bit above spec. Big whoop. The question is, does it sound better? You say it does.
Therefore what you're really asking is should I suffer worse sound to be within spec and maybe have longer stylus life- which won't happen anyway because it has as much to do with tracking as force. Put this way its a no-brainer. Go with what you hear. Every. Single. Time.
So you did everything right, and wound up a bit above spec. Big whoop. The question is, does it sound better? You say it does.
Therefore what you're really asking is should I suffer worse sound to be within spec and maybe have longer stylus life- which won't happen anyway because it has as much to do with tracking as force. Put this way its a no-brainer. Go with what you hear. Every. Single. Time.