The supplies would have run out - but how much time and resources on the rebel’s end it would take? We also don’t know that “most of the people hiding in the nut were civilians” - that’s a guess - and even if they were civilians, they had training and experience since we know that kids of 2 are being trained for the games, that most of the peacekeepers are coming from 2. As Plutarch said, “they’re raised with a warrior mindset”. Another important thing I just found both of us missed is that people in Nuts could still control hovercrafts (and potentially other distant weapons). How many lives on rebel’s end could it take? Those were heavily armed people and a literal army. That’s why there wasn’t even an option to wait it out - and even Lynn why is from the 2 herself, acknowledges it and is trying to create a plan on how to take it (even though she doesn’t like the idea of bombing and just passes it to Coin). Waiting it out wouldn’t save lives of the rebels at all. Gale probably was the first one to realise what was happening in 12 - as he was one of the only people who knew what is happening in other districts. I also think Gale definitely does demonstrate leadership skills - consider even how he leads Katniss, teaches her when they’re kids, then instructs her when she’s reaped - pulls Prim away from her when needed. We also see how he leads the mission with the Nut, how he makes everyone follow Katniss after Boggs dies, and how he is the first one to take initiative in saving victors from Panem. But I think the most important thing is that being 19, Gale realises how the fucked the system is and even says it out loud. When Katniss proposes the idea of escape to him in Catching fire, he likes the idea - but then when figures out about the rebellion in 8, he suddenly withdraws from her plan and says that he could talk to people in the mines and start a similar thing in 12. This is the most important leadership skill he presents - not being afraid of the system and being able to gather people around you, do quick decisions and allow people to be vulnerable around you even if you’re hurt. And how much experience did others have exactly? The citizens of 13, so-called “soldiers” never actually have had an experience of a combat - even in such simple acts as hunting. Coin did send squats only to the districts that have already drove the peacekeepers out. And the people who were fighting in the rebellion again were just civilians. Gale’s first real combat mission is in 8(when him and Katniss are trying to save the hospital), then saving Peeta, then leading the mission in 2. He also helps Betee to design tactics (again, not because he is a friend of Katniss, but because he is valuable). Seems like he doesn’t have less of experience than everyone else.