Is a cadence higher than 85 - 95 ... cheating?

Even if it’s true that some trainers don’t do well a high rotational speed… all I’m saying is that changing cadence from 85 to 95rpm in an extremely minor effect on the speed. It’s more than offset by one click on the right brifter.

If you are indeed stuck with such a crappy trainer, you should be paying way more attention to your gearing - variations in speed due to cadence are relatively much smaller.

Well, I’m glad that now it does make sense to you. You’ve learned something, and that’s always a good outcome.