Opening Up Compressed Bricks
Not sure if it was in this forum or elsewhere online that we were having a discussion of compressed bricks and how to encourage them to open. I was going to mention that I do one extra little thing when rinsing the tea. In addition to rinsing, I'll let the water sit in the brewing vessel until any air bubbles that are coming from the tea stop coming out. Now if bubbles are still coming out after a minute, I pretty much will pour out the wash and might give that wash a taste if it was a cleaner tea. The tea then sits in the vessel for 10 minutes as always to open up, as suggested by @mrmopu.
You should weigh the brewing vessel with the dry tea in it and after the rinse. I found my trick by accident doing that. Bricks you are likely correct on. Giving them the time to bubble seems sound practice.