BooNZ
Banned
The Russian modernization may have started in 1906, but it only ever picked up in 1912. It was in that that year that the Russians began their military reform, began a vast industrialization effort, and began a vast railroad building effort. The latter two funded by French loans. I agree with you that the Russians would in no way be unstoppable, but I strongly disagree that they would fail just as they had in 1914. The Russians were not even halfway through their military reform at that time, and had they been allowed to complete it (in 1917) the Russian military would become a far more formidable force capable of defeating the German army. But that doesn't mean that 10 out of 10 times they would win.
From 1908 to 1912 total Russian military spending exceeded total German spending (including significant naval costs). From 1913 German military spending started to exceed total Russian military spending. From what I understand, most the projected increases in Russian budget would have been absorbed by increases in the size of its standing army, so it could be mobilised quickly. This would not have addressed the inherent deficiencies in the Russian Army, demonstrated repeatedly OTL...