From my own experience, I have done it with and without the purge. It did feel like it accelerated the process, but not so much that it made a difference overal

From my own experience, I have done it with and without the purge. It did feel like it accelerated the process, but not so much that it made a difference overall. I have heard people claim that if you don't purge it doesn't count. It's the first thing they ask about another person's experience. That always felt a bit like Stockholm syndrome to me.