I bend strings all the time and for years had my bridges floating but never used the trem arm at all....and yes the bridge raises some naturally with the bend,I had no problems getting my bends to where I wanted I guess because of experience and my ears telling me where to bend to.
I would use the heel of my hand on the bridge to add a little vibrato effect on chords mainly,that's the only thing I miss with a flush bridge.
But,I finally figured why put up with the bridge following my bending at all,so I fixed the bridges down....it also helps now that the arthritis in my hands and wrists is more painful,why put any more strain on them when it's not needed?

If I got to choose, I´ll choose bends over trems. As I said I´ve found better for myself, using 3 springs, the bridge flush to body, but as flush as it gets just about touching the body. As if i bend hard, i can see the bridge float just a little, witch I find nice for feeling, as the bends seems more spongy feeling, just felt right to me. With the bridge set hard-flushed, bending get a little harsh when the springs are not really helping on compensating the string tension.
So what I did ?
I´ve set the bridge flush just about touching the body, then I did a few bends and used the tremolo forwards a little, and if the tuning gets off, i take a half turn on the claw, and test bend and forward trem again, when it gets stable tuning, ive stopped.
I just felt right about this, dismissing any recommendations on fender setup guide. Now just feel so good bending is so easy and spongy! I really like to feel the bridge lifting up a bit during bends, and the tuning standing just as right as stable.
I was really looking forward a floating tremolo / bending / stable tuning setup. But I think we cannot have it all can we ?

I have always had my Strat vibratos flush and used all 5 springs up until lately where they only come with 3 (at least mine have)and you have to buy the extra 2.I use 8-38 strings and find that the guitar doesn't go sharp when you bend and stays perfectly in tune even after deep dives.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

A well set up Strat will allow floating vibrato and an acceptable degree of (return to) pitch stability after string bends. Lightly greased string trees, a tusque or graphite/teflon nut and properly anchored strings all have a part to play here.

The Strat was designed with a great trem system that was ahead of it's time, and it seems a pity to ignore that major feature of the guitar. On the other hand, a flush hard to body bridge does give a better sound. I agonised over this for years. The ultimate solution? 2 Strats, one of each..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!