i don't know about that.. .010 out from behind the bearing would put the contact pattern WAY up off the top landing of the gear tooth.
maybe you are confused? here is another pic: notice sexy contact pattern centered between the root & top landing of the gear teeth
gears should be set up centered between root & top landing of gear tooth slightly on the tight & deep side (+/- .002 or so)so when the carrier tries to roll out under load it moves contact pattern right into the sweet spot.
id say running 10 thou less than what I have now is what would lead to 'premature ring & pinion failure'.
Randy Lyman, CEO Randy's Ring & Pinion puts it nicely.
"The biggest myth I continually encounter has to do with contact patterns for setting pinion depth. Although many disagree, I have found that the method used by General Motors, Dana Spicer, Richmond Gear, the Gleason Gear Company, and many others works best. The method that they use involves centering the contact pattern from root to top land and not from heel to toe."