The most effective reality checks are: breathing through the nose, or trying to pass your finger through your other palm. In the past they never failed for me. I don't see how could they fail? Maybe you don't do them fully so even in dream you do them quickly and so you have no time to become aware. I think that you have to install an habit of doing them with great attention/awareness. Take time to do them with great criticizm. So when you do them in dreams you will do the same so the failure is not possible.