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Notes -
It seems obvious to me that you and Dean are operating with different definitions of leverage (potentially, among other things).
Dean is disputing that a contributor that is "outweighed by other factors" can meaningfully be called leverage. To paraphrase:
"I've got a tool to help me accomplish a task."
"If you use the tool, can you accomplish the task?"
"No."
"Then how is the tool meaningfully useful in this context?"
In this case, despite the existence of the pipeline in a non-functional state, Germany was continuing to support Ukraine. The aid of the tool (non-functioning pipeline) was not accomplishing the task (getting Germany to bail on Ukraine). Might this have changed as winter sets in and Germany becomes more desperate for fuel? Maybe! Or maybe not, perhaps Germany decides that support-for-Ukraine remains their preferred position.
The point is, there's no evidence that turned-off-pipeline was going to be a winning move for Russia in terms of swaying German policy. There is a logical argument to that end, which you've made, but logical arguments can be wrong all the time.
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