I've never benched with a shirt, but I've tried to keep good PL form when benching, close to what you suggest, Aaron. I've found the closer to PL 'perfect' form I get, the less the heavy weights hurt my joints. I'm considering getting a shirt to try out training in. I don't compete or anything, I'm just obsessed with lifting as heavy weights as I can. Has your shirtless max bench gone up at all after training with a shirt? Just wondering.
I think I need to work on my elbow/forearm placement on the bottom of the lift.