I read the OP which states prior troubles.
However, my post, as stated, is
"What if."
And I said nothing about "rings not being expanded, and not creating compression due to gaps." That must be your interpretation.
The missing oil I am talking about, is to be
1) firstly, on the ring lands, sealing the rings to the pistons. and
2) secondly, on the cylinder walls, left there by oil-ring design, for the specific purposes of sealing the rings to the cylinder walls and
3) lubricating the working edges so the daym things last 100,000 miles.
4) the gaps are nearly meaningless in this grand scheme of things.