This is one of those situations where the phenomenon is very real, but the explanation can get difficult. We spent months with the help of plenty of experts to solve a "stiction" problem involving flat surfaces at fluids, much like the gage block issue. Namely, exactly what height differences is required (how thick does the fluid film have to be, driven by the differences in the land heights of the two surfaces), to be able to come off normal to the surface with a given force X.
Bharat Bhushan has written some good journal articles explaining the science which are very interesting reads.