Correct, however the cooling system is all about getting the water out of the hot engine as quickly as possible. The sooner the thermostat opens, the sooner that water is on its way out and into the radiator so the radiator can do its job. The sooner you get the water into the radiator, the sooner the radiator can cool it off. I also wouldn't use anything but a high flow thermostat. Everyone put high performance this and that on their engines, but when you start making recommendations for a high performance cooling system, they wince up and say "that's not how you're supposed to do it". I KNOW what worked for mine and it never, ever runs hot now.