I doubt it.
It doesn’t take any more effort to bend on a smaller radius but, as you say, they choke out easier. You have to follow the radius when bending.
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As an aside, if anyone thinks they’ve got their technique down, try this repeating lick at 5.02.
I’ve been transcribing this and the only way I can see to play it is bending the b string at the 12th fret one semitone to ‘C’, at the top of the bend, muting the b string but catching the g string pre-bent to ‘Ab’ and then release the g string back down to the g on the 12th fret.
I’ve been working on this for a day or so and I’m still a very long way from sounding anything like John Fogerty 
Some very impressive bending skills.
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We had the whole topic on this, if I understood you well. 
It is very much doable after some practice. To me, the key is to properly mute strings which are not played. In your case, muting G while you are bending B and then mutting B while you are picking/releasing prebent G.
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I’d forgotten that! As you say, I’m sure it’s doable, although as a repeating lick, doing it cleanly at speed is going to be a challenge. I’m only a day or so into it - I suspect it’s going to take a bit longer 
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In relation to string sizes, whilst it’s often quoted that SRV used heavy strings it’s less mentioned that he tuned down, which puts less tension on the strings, and that he was moving to lighter strings later on.
The ‘fact’ that heavier strings give you a better tone is also something that’s often quoted, but who’s actually tried it? Billy Gibbons uses strings down to 7.
If you want some actual evidence
https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-string-gauge-should-we-use-hts-0005
[mod edit - links to other sites replaced with one to Justin’s lesson covering the same content]
[Netwiz comment - yes thanks, in fact I came back as I just rediscovered Justin’s video and was going to link it - he comes to the same conclusion as the YT ones I’d linked originally]
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