The French technique while following or top-roping

While sport climbing in JT a friend told me a secret that allowed me to get through the crux of a route I otherwise would have never been able to do. I think he called it the French Technique and it is certainly cheating.  It is only possible when following or top-roping.  What you do, unbeknonst to your belayer, is to simply grab the rope above you and pull your way through the crux.  When you get to an easier spot above it you simply let the belayer take up rope and continue on.  I don't know why I didn't think of that before, perhaps because it is unethical, immoral and would be seriously frowned on by any self respecting climber.  But then I don't let that bother me!