Thank you, I understand!

Only when you have done more (weight, reps, sets…) in equally good form as before can you say that you have made progress.

I can move about 120 kg in the bent-over row. If I were to loosen the form a bit (position my torso a bit higher, start pulling back just an inch above the true end of the ROM, or something similar) I can go up to 125, maybe even 130. Yet, in my eyes, this doesn’t count as a real progress.

When first setting a new PR, the form usually lets something to be desired. However, it takes a few more training sessions for that new record to sink in so that you may say that you’ve made actual progress.

There must be some value to moving the mass. Maybe it counts less, perhaps?

It probably doesn’t apply, but as a high ranked martial artist, I learned to use less correct form with some of my punching techniques especially, because a weaker strike that connects is better than a stronger strike that misses.