It's possible, but frequency is determined by more factors than simply relief from nicotine withdrawal. It's also possible that reducing concentration very slightly doesn't change the overall equation enough to actually drive behavioral change. But I'd agree that outcomes are better secured with conscious intent. I think quitting successfully and meaningfully means learning resilience against compulsion to engage in behaviors driven by chemical reactions in the brain, which this approach doesn't do at all.

Not if you only hit it in certain circumstances, i.e breaks at work, out drinking, etc.

That kind of 1%/week gradual decrease would probably lead to less of an addiction to line up with less of a dose as well.