Originally Posted by
fietsbob
...when you pull the lever 1st you compress the spring that moderates the force ,
Kinda-sorta, but not really.
A spring can't reduce force. The force that goes into one end goes out the other.
No way around that.
A "brake modulator" - until the spring is fully compressed - changes the ratio between lever travel and the pinch force of the brake.
Basically it gives you the compression length of the spring as extra lever travel before the lever comes up stiff.