Warning: quit treating seam sealer like it's just thick caulk

I keep seeing guys at our shop in Toledo lay down seam sealer right over bare metal or old half peeled sealer, then wonder why it lifts in 8 months. The stuff is not caulk and it does not stick to a dirty or rusty surface no matter how much you put on. I had a quarter panel come back on a 2016 Escape last spring because the last guy skipped the prep and the sealer pulled away from the wheel arch, and I ate the redo. What works for me is hitting the seam with a scuff pad, wiping it down with wax and grease remover, letting it flash off for a good 10 minutes, then priming before the sealer goes on. Also people put it on way too thick in one pass and it skins over and stays soft underneath for days. Two thin passes with a little dry time in between beats one fat bead. How are you all prepping the pinch welds on those rocker seams where you can barely get a finger in there?