Did you try putting some amonia into the water? That often helps soften the wood as wellmoreso than just with water alone.
Also, what about using wood that is 1/2 the thickness, and then building it up (in other words, put on the first one, then glue the second one to it. This would be true laminating, and bending thinner wood is easier than thicker wood. You could even go 1/3 and laminate 3 pieces, or 1/4 and laminate 4 pieces. Just some thoughts.

For example, if you were trying to get an edge thickness of 1/2 inch, then you could use four 1/8 inch thick pieces, soaked in water, and glued on one at a time for a total thickness of 1/2 inch.