Very good response. You are correct. What you have done is no better or worse than using a metal repair flange. I let my typing get ahead of my brain. I have been trained to only use a wax ring for a seal between the toilet and the closet flange. Nothing else. Just because I was taught this way doesn't mean that there aren't other ways to do things. I think your ( or your father in laws) way will actually work just fine. Just glad you got it fixed.