You're right, the debate is going round in circles.
But just on the example you've given... in my opinion Matty Russell is a better winger that Hopoate or Bennison. That's how I'd be looking at it. He's not the best winger in SL or a long term option by any means, but he'd be an addition to the first team squad on perhaps a 1 year deal at a time of limited options.
That's if Lewis Murphy is not interested in joining the club as said on here and Saints don't want to explore putting Hopoate and/or Bell on the market. Thus making a quota player out of the question as well.