> These types of contracts are not new or innovative.

Agreed.

> On top of other companies having these contracts in place as well

Yes, but scale is important. My analysis at the time was that Tesla was locking in significantly more material behind contracts than Toyota or other companies.

> mining companies will pay to break these contracts if a high enough bidder comes along or flat out pays them to break it.

This assumes the contract is written in such a way that Tesla does not have to consent to the contract being broken. My understanding was that Tesla was trying to get into as many contracts as they could without such clauses.