"I look out on the water and 'feel the force' the better I do to weather",
Yes, use the force Chris...
I agree with just about all that's been said. The conditions usually dictate much of it.
And, as been said, pinching is SLOW. You think you're going higher, when in reality, you are slipping leeward more. If you just bore off a bit, and got the net gain from the lift off your boat and boards, etc., you end up higher on the coarse than a boat that's pinching too much.
If your boat/rig has the system, the crew should be working the downhaul to flatten the sail in puffs, thus squirting you forward, instead of flying too high, of heading up too much.
So, my answer is, sheet the downhaul as the puff builds, easing in the lulls, etc.
