Die clearance absolutely makes or breaks springback control on tight radii. Too tight and the material work-hardens, exacerbating the rebound (a classic headache on high-strength steels). Dialing in that sweet spot often requires a test bend or two, but it's worth the setup time.
How often do we blame material prep when die clearance is the real culprit? I used to prioritize material conditioning, but @kim_perry's point about work-hardening on tight radii shifted my focus. Now I see that dialing in clearance first saves more headaches than any prep work.