The "old and bold ones" who tried to tell you it wasn't possible possibly never actually got a low enough IAS, just less than 40 kts when the ASI went to sleep.
Backwards and down trying to hover up there was always bad for the grey hair count; that's also what happened to us.
I used to aim to achieve the high hover from a gently climbing straight quickstop, far more predictable and quieter on the ground, too.