cable out the top road brake levers were what was paired with centre pulls like Mafac, racers
or those Weinmann, dia compe sorts back in the day ..

V brake levers have a low Mechanical advantage. leverage. ( that internal system )
so pull more cable length

the fulcrum is further towards a center of a lever ..
higher MA the pivot is closer to the (cable)end being pulled.



so that is the general mechanics .. ever used a crowbar or a teeter-totter?

you could use V brake levers with those* .. set them up so there is a lot of space
when at rest .. between rim and pad , and the longer cable pull

will squeeze air space before reaching the rim. set them up so that point
is where it feels best for your hand grip strength..

or if set close , just a small swing of the lever ,will get tips of fingers as the grip of the lever..

*we in the LBS here have done that, it works ..