"N`s avowed policy in Spain and Portugal was to force those countries to pay all the costs of their own subjugation."
That is a normative, invective-laden conclusion.
One could easily say that the policy was to liberate the people of Iberia from feudal and religious tyranny and exploitation and have them pay reasonable taxes to contribute the broad development of the economies, and thereby increase the wealth and happiness of the people.
That would be a normative, praise-laden conclusion.
Both are devoid of factual or source support.
I bet you like the first one and not the second one.

"If he thought that that policy was going to be meekly accepted, he was showing signs of being seriously detached from reality."
In 1808 and early 1809, the policy had been meekly accepted everywhere it was previously tried : France itself, Low Countries, "Germany", parts of Poland and Italy (including Piémont), Switzerland (by contract, not occupation). Even Spain and Portugal started off with meek acceptance. What examples of other than meek acceptance existed to keep Napoléon more "attached to reality" ? A handful of Calabrian bandits ?