Have any of those ‘observers’ considered the potential that Russia might have gone into this with the intention of not revealing current technological and support ability to the Western world because they felt using their second-tier would be enough to achieve their goals?
Are you suggesting they’re treating this like an NFL team treats an Exhibition Game?
Perhaps but unlikely. Mechanized warfare emphasizes quick movement, the prompt seizure of objectives and abhors static lines of battle.There is almost no plausible advantage for Russia to get bogged down in a static conflict. It would not advance their political goals.
However almost all such analysis is inherently flawed and incomplete. The danger has always been that politicians will eagerly believe that which supports their notions and ignore that which contradicts their conceptions and desires. Nor do they even consider that critical data is unknown or as you suggest being purposely hidden. It is this formula that leads to misjudgments and real disaster.
Concerning the "war" and that convoy of military gear just sitting there. Why? I think that is because there is nothing for them to do. The war ended just a few days after it began.