My statement is based on the assumption that the second foreign language IS being studied at the expense of something else. If you will note, I allowed for taking it outside of the regular coursework, if that was possible. As you seem to agree, there is no value in the second language for admissions purposes.
My observations on Russian placement are based on years of watching HS students with 3 and even 4 years of HS Russian being unable to make it in 2nd year and getting knocked back down to 1st.