It is interesting, a balanced strategy works.
I think that it could be seen as KI-WEGJ = “Killing Italy While Engaging German and Japan”.
I mean spending with USA on both front allow for hindering Axis powers effort of focusing on Russia.
At same time, however, Allies are not able to deal a quick and deadly blow to German or to Japan, IMHO, so the first objective remains, as in the History, Italy, which
have to be defeated as soon as possible.The question is? Really this strategy may pay more than a KXF approach?
KIWEGJ is a longwinded, but good name for this strat! Great coining Romulus!
As for not being able to deal a quick and deadly blow, I had those same fears while the game was going on. I worried that Germany would get a series of absurdly lucky rolls (or a tech) and would have spanked the Russians. But, it would seem that by having the Allies harassing the major Axis powers, they had do divert much of their limited resources and were thus unable to fully engage the Russians- which you pointed out. This is true with Germany especially, who simply cannot produce enough units (10 a turn is so low!).
As of now I think this strategy does pay off. Once Italy is a ravaged mass no longer capable of doing much of anything, the Western Allies should be at almost full strength and the Axis should have lost their momentum due to ‘house keeping.’ The Americans get almost all of their NO’s from the Pacific theatre, and the Brits maintain their one NO while getting the Japanese territory one and continually getting a stab at the Balkan/France one. All of this stuff is ingredients for Game Over Pie for the Axis.
Patience is a virtue.