Adding that much NaOH or lye is overkill, and unnecessary.
To "lye lock" the aqueous layer, you either have to add far too much NaOH-- or you simply did not dilute the reaction fluid enough to begin with. If your polar layer locks up, it either is too concentrated or you are wasting lye.
This is one area where "too much" isn't better, just like too much acid doesn't improve titration. There is enough, and there is too much. I understand the urge to base until there's no chance there is any meth HI left in the solution... but I assure you that point is reached well before lye lock.
If lye lock were beneficial, why does the kerplunk give better yields in two pulls than anyone ever achieves from lye lock? I suspect its the fluidity of the reaction fluid and its circulation against the nonpolar solvent, which allows the solvent access to the freebase meth. That, and in part the heat imparted to the solvent, which increases its effectiveness as a solvent. It has nothing to do with higher pH or solidifying the polar layer.