I think you're right, they'd think he was merely the trigger man. I think Michael was underestimated as a Don -- for strategy and leadership -- more than for courage or street smarts.
Yes. Remember that even Tessio (in the novel) detects in Michael a force clevely kept hidden.
Yet it was Tessio who was ready to switch sides because he didn't believe enough in Mike. Why is it that Puzo kept saying how smart Tessio was?
