Ostracized, eh?
How thorough are your attempts at overheating? The temp gauge is rigged to move only at certain ranges IIRC. For example, midpoint or just prior might be indicated from say 180-220F.
Perhaps your cooling system is just working correctly.
Only time I've ever seen mine above midpoint is on a coursewide red flag (not me!) during a PCA TT at TMS: long course, lots of high revs, no cooldown lap. The fan brought it back down. Otherwise mine rarely reads high, even in stop and go rush-hour traffic in August with the A/C on.