flare needs to be more positive with flap 40 to get the nose high. To do that you need to have the power off & airspeed reducing towards Vref in order to prevent ballooning.
Reducing toward VREF? In nil wind normally you should be at slightly less than VREF at the flare since the flare itself causes speed reduction naturally. If gust factors and HW component factors are added to the VREF which could be as much as 20 knots of additives, does that mean you will inevitably balloon? I don't think so. I would have thought it was pilot technique (skill) that prevents ballooning. Excess speed over VREF is a well known factor in one cause of ballooning but prevention is a pilot skill.