I was strong then and it is best I moved away from that. Took my body about 2 years to normalize because I don't think 'my body' knew what weight it was supposed to be, LOL!
Leg press were all the way down yes. I'm a close stance so its was knees to the chest. I had to have someone help me 'set' the dumbbells to my shoulders as I kicked them up from the knee, but I did them all - 3 sets of 10. I was kind of a jacked up freakster back then. Most people still thought I looked feminine, but really it was nearing that edge. I really had lifted heavy weights for a long time religiously so I imagine muscle maturity was a factor.
You truly can keep that strength without gear if you choose to. It just depends on your dedication, training and nutrition I think.