@Evalina - you could answer all our confusion by describing how much of a difference in ride the new struts made. If it was a major difference the inspector was right, if it was a minor difference he was wrong.
And yes, gas charged shocks/struts do extend themselves when the strap is cut (I had to wrestle a set of Bilsteins under my Suburban years ago), but that effect is very minor as far as what’s going on here.