Spannersatcx,
Like your comment re QA - this is what its all about now. No logic! just get all the bits of paper right! As you say what on earth is the difference in flying wihout it or inop if you pull the CB's in both cases??
Had similar incident with a worn brake unit in India. We blocked and blanked the brake off per the MEL and had 3 days to clear the MEL. Usual India problems of customs etc finally got the brake on the 3rd day. By this time another brake was down to limits. So quickest and easiest was to change the newly worn unit and leave the original one blanked and blocked. Operation was the same with one blocked brake. Oh No No No ! we had overrun the MEL on the first brake - what we should have done is unblocked and unblanked the first brake - fit the spare - signed the MEL off. THEN block and blank the second unit and raise a new MEL item!!
As ever BS baffles brains !