Nope, it works!
In the FAQ#7934 you've mentioned, it is done that way (check line 28)...
And also writing '=thisform.myfunc()' makes the VFP compiler to think this is an expression that will return the Dynamic* setting.

You are right that it should be without the equal sign.
so:
Sparse=.F.
and with no "=" in the Dynamic* property (grim)