Yep I agree. I was just doing WILDs for several months before I ever recognized a dream sign in my dream. I don't do reality checks, unless something in real life seems really really off and then I might just stop and think whoa am I dreaming. But even then I don't perform any real sort of gesture.

Once I was able to recognize my dream sign I was able to have a few DILDs from it...but only a few. I've had alot more DILDs though since then just because I think I have learned to be a bit more aware when something is really not right in my dream. Regardless any method for attaining lucidity will take some time to get right.