No. That is what the black letters all in a row that translate to "pilot
discretion" mean. I've done hundreds of them in small aircraft and heavy
(450,000+ lbs).

I have a similar background. When I was flying the air carrier aircraft, the
company I worked for had as policy that its crews would report leaving a
previously assigned altitude, whether PD or not.

There reasoning was it removed any possibility of ambiguity.

When there are two options, and there is any doubt as to which is right (or
wrong) exercise the option that has the least cost if wrong.