Point 1:
If I am Russia, and I want to manipulate online opinions, do I do that with a massive bot network from inside my own country?
Maybe, but more likely I want the traffic to look organic, so I want to have it come from all over the world including from inside the US itself. Knocking down a data centre would have no impact on me then.
Additionally, I try many approaches simultaneously, hiring actual people to run these accounts and spread my propaganda online too. As a state actor, cost is not really a concern.
Point 2:
If there actually was a reduction in the kind of traffic being discussed, there would be evidence elsewhere, like these right wing communities that people claim have less posts in them now. But that’s just not the case, the measurements that have been taken indicate traffic and engagement remains similar to a week ago.