Hi Zioming!
So I wonder if by cheating you mean looking up the words as you do the reviews. I think a faster way, and forgive me if this is what you meant, would be to use the ignore user script.
I think that most people after being on WaniKani for a while start downloading userscripts because it is annoying to get something wrong that you knew, but misspelled or to see, 八日, but answer はちがつ. Even though you know the difference you just misread it.
I agree with your guide though. I think it’s smart to give yourself a pass until the items are guru level. Apprentice level you are still “learning”.
I was getting, 元, the vocab, wrong for a while. I couldn’t remember anything but げん. But I would override the wrong answer and the click the eye to reveal the answer, もと. I don’t feel that this is totally cheating because after I check the answer and it is ignored, it is cycled back into the reviews and I will have to answer it right later that session, albeit only a minute later but still.