Over the years, I've had a couple of times that the cheeses have separated, leaving my fondue gooey and lumpy in some places and watery in others. Ever since I've done the two steps with asterisks, that hasn't happened again.
Helpful tip: If you're like me and always freeze the second bread loaf from Costco, you can thaw it out and pop it in a 350F oven for 8 to 10 minutes to make the crust crispy again.