Question

In the Conceptual Analysis 2 lecture (from minute 58 onward), the Rabbi brought the story of the Beit HaLevi, who said that he was lenient in many matters, with the result that this created difficulty for people (for example, he was lenient that one could fast for two days, and that consequently made them obligated to fast for two days). Based on this, the Rabbi argued that the definition of a leniency is “opening up options,” not whatever will actually be easier or more pleasant for me in practice (1:05:45 — that is where the exact formulation was stated).
And yet at the end of the lecture (1:14:30), the Rabbi brought a passage from Berakhot 54 about in what forum one should recite HaGomel. Tosafot and Torat HaRosh said that we rule stringently, but each came out with a different conclusion: Tosafot — one recites the blessing even in the more limited forum; Torat HaRosh — one recites the blessing only in the expanded forum. Then the Rabbi said that by the simple definition Tosafot is the stricter position, and he explained Torat HaRosh in light of the prohibition of “Do not take [God’s name in vain].” If so, the Rabbi contradicted what he said above, because here Tosafot opens up more options, and it should not matter that this later turns into an obligation. I would be happy for clarification. (And seemingly they really do disagree about the definition of stringency and leniency, since in any case Tosafot is not stricter regarding the prohibition of “Do not take [God’s name in vain],” and the only stringency in his words is that he obligates you even though he opens up an option for you.)
In any event, see Rabbi Asher Weiss’s lecture “Regarding Rabbinic-Level Doubt Concerning a Blessing,” in the summary that appears below, where at the beginning he infers from the Mishnah Berurah that a leniency is not opening up options but rather what is actually easier for me in practice (and therefore he distinguishes between twilight before the day of obligation and twilight after the day of obligation), and it seems to me that some say not like the Mishnah Berurah, that opening up options is always a leniency (and very often this has practical implications for a blessing).
P.S.
I just now saw on the site: “You can purchase the collection of recordings of previous courses (Critical Thinking, Yeshiva-Style Learning, Philosophical Thinking, Contemporary Judaism, Reading Philosophical Texts, and The Analytic and the Synthetic).” Is it possible for several yeshiva guys to purchase together, or is it intended for individual purchase only? And on the other side, if someone purchases it alone, can he let a friend listen, etc.? Thank you very much 🙂