Was this a technique required by the early tricycle undercarrige on such as the Airacobra, and taught to us by the Americans? This was then carried over to the early jets as "that was the way to do it" with tricycle undercarriage.
Going through some WWII flight manuals seems to be something in what you say. The British B-24 notes say lift the nosewheel when elevators become effective to prevent nosewheel pounding, whereas the US notes say the reason for lifting is that the aircraft sits with a negative angle of attack.
B-29 says to relieve pressure on the nosewheel at 90 mph to lengthen the oleo. Nosewheel should not be more than one inch off the runway at any point in the roll and aircraft will fly itself off.
Notes on the P-38 mention a negative angle of attack and at 80 mph pull back steadily and firmly for lift off at 100 mph.