Hmm ok, thanks for the response. So, all I can then think of to verify it is:
1. Clear all browser cache for test
2. Have paid media team set up a dummy ad for me and push it live
3. Me to view said ad "in the wild" using cache cleared browser, and don't click on it
4. Close browser
5. Open browser and visit destination site/page that the ad was set up for (and assume that my "Direct" rule does not override my Display View Through last touch - because I've told it not to in the Marketing Channels config)
6. Wait a couple of hours for data to emerge in AA and confirm if rules were followed correctly.
Can you see anything wrong with this approach? Thanks again ... really appreciate it!