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What you said + nicer motherboards often come with bios flashback which should (IMO) be a mandatory feature for motherboards on platforms like AM4. Makes CPU compatibility much better since a supported bios version can be flashed anytime, no matter what CPU is currently installed (if a CPU is installed at all!).
I think it is more likely that the act of taking the cartridge out and reinserting scrapes away at grime that is stuck on the pins, creating better contact with the connector in the console. Blowing into them likely did nothing.