Could be. The impression I've got over the years - and I stress that it's only an impression, not based on solid personal research - is that tube amps are pretty tolerant of mismatches up to 100% (or +100%, -50%, if you prefer). I usually play bass, and even when playing guitar, rarely if ever go balls to the walls all the time, and I have never had any trouble. This might not be the case for someone playing closer to all distortion, all the time.