Squeak,
I didn’t disrespect the minhag. I did not say that anyone who follows it is wrong. I simply decided that, for me, for the reasons presented, following the minhag* was defeating it’s very purpose. For others who follow the minhag for other reasons, it may very well still make sense to do so. But I started observing it for the reason presented — and when it no longer made sense for me to do so, I stopped.
The Wolf
* It should be pointed out that this is not some ancient family minhag that I stopped following. This is a practice that I started observing on my own – not at the instruction of a Rav or any other official. Since I started it completely of my own volition and for a specific reason, and the reason is no longer valid (for me), then I should be able to stop it on my own as well.