I’m very keen on this strategy even with the minor complex limitation. It isn’t enough to get USA on Norway alone to defeat the Axis in Europe, although it’s a pretty big step in the right direction. I think you still need to weaken Italy as well by controlling the med and convoy disrupting.
Regarding the blocker, that is a major obstacle. The USN can’t just sit in the north sea away from an airbase early on. The Luftwaffe will take them out. My move is to buy a CV US1, leave it unloaded in SZ123 and threaten to use the Soviet air out of Leningrad to clear the blocker. Try to keep the Barents Sea sub alive too. This works fine so long as the Japanese DOW before the Germans do. I don’t think I’ve ever had to use this force to clear a blocker - it isn’t worth putting it down if it can be cleared. With a G2/J2 DOW you are unlikely to be holding Leningrad after G3 although you could position Soviet planes on Finland if you hold that with enough strength.
If the Soviets claim Finland, that gives a landing field for fighters from Iceland and the planes can defend the soviet troops from a German landing.
In one game the Germans kicked the Yanks off Norway the next turn (so no IC) but the Soviets kicked the Germans off and it looks like they’ll stay off. This means the Soviets get the communism NO for two territories. The Germans also lost a couple of planes sinking the carrier fleet.
One thing to watch out for with this strategy is losing in the Pacific while you’re doing it.