OK, I finally see what you are saying. I was going from the bars in their highest position. Your going from 90 degrees. And taking the distance along the diagonal. However, if you look at the force it still is the distance to the steering axis and has not changed.
The moment is the perpendicular distance of the force to the steering axis

(above) You're both correct, in specific instances.

The diagonal does increase the moment arm, resulting in higher torque for the same force, or lower force for the same torque, but if and only if, the force is applied at the same angle, 90 degrees, to the hand grips.

If the force direction is constant, i.e., pure forward when the wheel is straight, than even though the diagonal is longer, the horizontal lateral component is the same length so the same moment arm.

It gets more weird in going from a T handlebar or short stem, to a long forward stem; With the latter, a given amount of steering results in more *lateral movement* of the handlebars, which seems to "slow down" the steering, and provides more self-centering of the steering under constant forward hand pressure on the handlebars. It's the same effect if the stem was the same and the bars angled a lot diagonally forward, as well as the upward tilt on airplane wings (dihedral); With the plane tilted so one wing is level horizontal and the other more upward, the horizontal one has more lift against gravity so will self-correct the plane to level. Same with forward-swept or mounted handlebars.

Effectively, in the case we are looking at, the lever arm is the same but moved a few inches forward in the direction of the force.

Here is my install. Works great, just can’t get the QR to clear the handlebar without actually loosening the nut first. I’m looking for a shorter QR lever, or may just grind one down, and install a pull loop on it to give me something to help open it, unless somebody had a better option. Closing my new thread - actually whiffed in the fact that I had this one going! Sorry for the confusion, but I really appreciate the feedback! I’ve actually orderd a new QR lever just like this one. I may be REALLY overthinking this, but my plan is to cut it down so it just clears the bar when open. I would then sew a little sleeve out of nylon strapping to slip over the shortened lever, which incorporates a finger loop for added leverage when opening. The second idea is to 3D print the second half of the QR lever and make it removeable.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f43df18ad.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f8c85a430.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f8088e5da.jpeg

(above, re handle): With aero bars bolted around my handlebars in same position as your extensions, to release the lever, I always need to push it up from in front and below, between the aero bar tubes. Easy. Then I fully retract it from above. Also, it really helps to lube the lever cam area with some anti-seize (me) or grease. Mine has a tiny copper sheet between the lever cam and handlebar clamp, I put the anti-seize on top between the lever cam and copper, where it slides. Clamps just as strong and lever stays put, but greatly reduces the lever force needed.