The latter—I’m not sure I’ve ever run OG 5/3/1: I started reading JW’s work with Forever, and though I eventually bought and devoured the original and Beyond, I just adopted his updated recommendations in Forever and never looked back.
It was probably the 10+ back-to-back cycles of 5/3/1 leading up to it moreso than any particular template I happened to run during that time, but I got my best (165x1) as a Joker during the anchor in a run of Perverator in May 2022, and then again in February 2023 during a deload week following my Frakenbuilding mash-up, which was 5s PRO for the main work with 5/3/1 & Bodybuilding "supplemental” and assistance.
In the end, all roads lead to Rome—if you work hard enough, consistently enough, and long enough—and that’s why I’m excited for you!