Gotta run so cannot do much justice right now to your excellent post. I do think, however, that that theory you mention - which holds some prominence here abouts - does not seem very credible to Paul Manafort et al... all those Clintonistas plotting away under the witch's nose...?
Oh, I don’t think the theory applies to Manafort.
I think Manafort, Gates, Page, and Papadopoulos, were Deep State plants. At the very least, they were mercenaries who knew exactly what they were doing. I don’t believe that any of those 4 were innocents coerced by blackmail or threats.