All of the methods of removing entrained air are valid. We had a device on the tap that made the bubbles coalesce and form huge bubbles. I believe it was called a vacuum breaker. The Jobo washer has one of these devices on the hose at the end and it does a remarkable job washing. You see, the bubbles can also form during washing and create spots of unwashed film or paper which then brown up later. So a bubble remover is used for wash as well.
I think that distilled water would be rather free of this problem.
Anyhow, I throw it out there on the table. You see, I am not one to say this or that is right, I merely suggest the prewet to anyone with development problems as it has, in my experience, aided uniformity, reduced air bells and given better temperature uniformity from process to process. It brings my equipment up to the proper temperature. OTOH, I also say "use what works".
And remember that in my nearly 60 years of experience, I was often processing 100 rolls of film or several hundred prints each day and sometimes using 3 or more processing methods (machine, hand tank, dip and dunk, tray and etc.. Some had prewet and some did not. In general, when we had a problem and there was no prewet, we added one. It almost always worked unless there was another problem in addition.
PE