Lu,
The vertical weight component remains, whether it is a large or small fraction of the radial loading. Until you bring blade lift into consideration, the blade will not be able to achieve the horizontal due this vertical force component.
The blade, viewed simplistically, is no different to a mass on the end of a piece of string .. the mass is any blade element, and the string is the blade structure at reduced radii.
I suspect that the reference to Einstein is facetious ?
[This message has been edited by john_tullamarine (edited 01 July 2001).]