Originally Posted by
Pop N Wood
No. The shape or angularity of the lever doesn't matter. All that matters is the force vector and the straight line distance from the pivot point and the force itself. the lever (stem etc) can be I, L, S or even U shaped.
Mathematically it is the cross product of the force vector and the vector from the pivot point to where the force is applied. I hate posting a diagram on a site like this but maybe is will resonate with some.
Torque and Equilibrium (gsu.edu)
I think I get what you're saying, but the argument is that the steer tube is the delicate part (again, I have my doubts, but going with that for now). A steeper rise stem on a shorter tube would be pulling on a shorter steer tube, making the "delicate" lever shorter and stronger.
If a diagram helps us understand, go for it. I'm certainly not a physicist.