It most certainly was a soft underbelly, and your answer avoids the central solution I proposed (by the way, I appreciate the debate!). If Normandy couldn't have happened, they could have pushed through Italy. If Gibraltar had been taken by the Germans, North Africa and Italy would have been irrelevant. Indeed, Italy could have been freed for action in the Atlantic! That would have had a similar effect as the original suggestion of combining France's Navy with Germany's. Perhaps more effective given Italy's familiarity with its own Navy!
Perhaps I'm missing your point, but I can't see how Gibraltar, and the control of the Med, wouldn't have secured Hitler's Europe on all but the Soviet Front. For me, it's the absolutely most logical decision for Hitler in late 1940. Knock Britain completely out of the continent, and reduce them to a purely Atlantic opponent. Delay the attack on the Soviets for a couple of years, reduce Britain to nothing with the help of the Italians, combine an attack with the Japanese on the Soviets when you do attack (if for no other purpose than to confuse a confuseable Stalin), and this armchair, hindsight, general would be very pleased! :p
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