Actually, no, your example does not logically follow. Neither does your primary example, though in a crude form it is basically correct. A consistent load of a consistent powder will give consistent results - even if a component of those results is that some of the powder is still combusting at the time of exit. A given caliber, using molly coated bullets, will require a larger amount of powder to achieve the same muzzle velocity - because the powder reacts more efficiently and/or completely while at the higher pressure. the bore friction keeps that burn efficiency high - the higher the resistance to expansion, the more complete the burn. Which is all well and good if your goal is to burn powder completely. Ours usually isn't - our goal is consistent muzzle velocity (behind an ever increasingly departing bullet - which tends to drop pressure rapidly even before the bullet is gone) - so we throw more of a slower burning powder behind it to keep that pressure high longer. The result is the desired muzzle velocity, at the expense of a complete burn. The side effect is large muzzle flashes from unexpanded gasses and incompletely burned powder being expelled from the muzzle. And so long as our bullets go to where they are pointed, and do it consistently - the unburned, or late burned powder consumed after the bullet is gone is of no real consequence to most shooters.
I don't buy it.
al
BTW, today my loads ranged from 94 grains to 104 grains of powder from a 28" barrel. My ES averaged 11fps over 40rds with some loads at 5fps total spread in group.
On smaller rounds up to 308 case, I CAN SEE THE EFFECT OF INDIVIDUAL KERNELS OF POWDER. Can't convince me that it doesn't follow.