Trevor, I am simply posting my experience while my transmission rebuilt. My filter was completely clogged with various clutch and seal detritus. The blockage was total. Whether debris cause the heat, or heat causes the debris, I feel we can be fairly sure the heat a debris contribute to the failure of the transmission.
LAN also has a few ideas surrounding heat and debris contributing to failure, his performance transmission build thread in the mod section is excellent reading for anyone curious about 4eat weaknesses and eventual failure. I am not questioning your admittedly exhaustive knowledge of automotive engineering, simply citing that I do have first hand experience and some research in this area. Simply because the knowledge of what kills this transmission is old, does not mean that it need be necessarily revised.
-Patrick