*nods* Definitely worth making yourself take timed breaks (I'll actually use the stopwatch on my watch to make myself take a break for a minimum number of minutes).

There are assorted training plans (easy to find on climbing training sites or in books like The Self-Coached Climber) for endurance or power-endurance which involve taking a break for X number of minutes after climbing continuously for Y minutes, then repeating for several rounds.

the ability to stop, lean back on the rope and rest for a moment while I tried to figure out how to make a move on a route

My best substitutes: grab a hold on another route to rest, or use a much easier route to climb back up to my high point to retry the tricky moves.

Anyway, glad to hear it worked out so well for you.