Cosmic: Honey is anti-mold? Sweet! (That’s what I’m using)
There may be some... I think jitterbugdude objected to honey being added to steam actually having anything to do with mold prevention. So, I am not 100% certain, but when I added honey to the steam, none of that tobacco molded. When dealing with kitchen chemistry, any number of variables may have been what actually prevented the mold.
As to your question, I think you've answered it yourself in the quote from Greg Pease, which also reminds me of what Anthony Bourdain says about cooking a steak... It's actually the 7 to 10 minutes after you pull a steak off the grill that makes or breaks the flavors, as there is something magical that is going on inside there.