"Trying to remember if I used to do a 'quick soak' accelerated last minute before a meal method;
though right now I'm not sure if It's something I've completely forgotten,
or something imagined ???"

Nope, it's not a phantasm of your poor doner addled brain, the fast soak is indeed 'a thing' - bizarrely I'm so organised these days that I can't remember needing to do it!

Bring beans to the boil. Fast boil, for ten minutes. Turn off the heat and put on the lid. Sit for two hours. Cook. (as said, cant' vouch for the effectiveness, but that's what I remember.)

My mum cooked beans in the pressure cooker, it takes considerably less time. ONe of these days I'll invest in a posh stainless steel one: vegan kitchen porn