agreed. when you lift x lb's for y rep (s) you establish neural pathways.
these connections create an indelible impression in the brain and i think
this activity is erroneously referred to as *muscle memory*
I can't say anything about the gear, but I can attest to the neural adaptation to lifting heavier.
There is also just this mind set you get into that 'I am going to lift this @@%%$^$^'
I think one think some of you lads may want to look into about keeping gains is that while you are on, you can overtrain as recovery is so much better.
Once you are off, I would adapt the training for more rest periods, and that is just not muscle recovery, but CNS (central nervous sytem) recovery.