That is not a stupid question. It is simply the learning process. You are seeing it through and that's what matters most.
Consider the idea of what happens when a hinge occurs, the wood is too thin and the curve is too severe.
Your thinking is basically correct. You would get wood working where it is "below the arc", which would relieve stiffness and bring the other areas up. Tillering can be a tricky process, even for people who have done it 100 times.
So what do you think you'll do next?