Sal M. Onella wrote:

It's hardly an old wives' tale.

I mistakenly put a 2m antenna on my dual band HT and tried to use it for a
short QSO on a nearby 440 repeater. The other ham said I was barely making
the repeater, while my poor HT got so hot that I could barely hold it after
a minute's use.

The antenna was wrong and the heat was real -- whatever the theory behind
it.

Once a black cat walked across the street in front of me. I had a
wonderful day! The wonderful day was real, whatever the theory behind
it. My basis for crediting the cat is just as valid as yours for
crediting "reflected energy" for the heating. And based on similar logic.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL