I agree, it takes more power to get the load moving. Once the advantage is overcome you can lift the load higher. Less advantage to make the lift when the fulcrum is further away, more advantage in height once lifted.
That is where you get tems like "taller gears". But you don't lose power, it takes more to start the lift but if you have it you are not punished later if your goal is height.
Make a fulcrum on your desk with a pen, ruler whatever. Move it away from the load end. The further away from the load the higher it lifts. WOT once in motion the 19t goes faster over the total lift. No loss of power.
If my goal is to reach 75 MPH and be under 4000 RPMs. With a 17t sprocket I can fail to reach that goal a lot faster than a 19t can achieve it. It all depends on where you want you power placed.
