Yeah, I feel like the alteration/range to forward-moving strikes happening right away when switching levels is something they should have been more specific about. Is it any combo that changes levels whether the level change happens on the second strike or the 3rd? etc?
The way I took it was the range reduction kicks in with
any combo where you change levels, no matter what point in the combo you do the level change.
I keep my level changing combos short though, 2 punches like a jab/straight and then lead hook to the body. I don't notice any difference in range reduction when doing that.