Originally Posted by Campag4life

I wouldn't have done it your way either OP...because I own the Park Hanger Alignment Tool which I use pretty religiously on my bikes for best shifting but you are likely ok. Doing what you did is simply bad for the derailleur...to use it like a lever because of its joints but if it shifts OK you probably dodged a bullet, but unless you hit the lottery, your hanger isn't straight. A hanger isn't particularly easy to get perfect even with the Park tool. Hanger alignment isn't just vertical...its horizontal as well...needs to be aligned in 2 planes for best shifting performance.