请教一个GRE阅读中的长难句

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How explicit and consistent the symbolizing processwas intended to be is a much thornier matter, but anyone who has morefamiliaritythana passing acquaintance with Dutch literature or with the kinds ofimages used in illustrated books (above all emblem books) will know how much lesspervasive wasthe habit of investing ordinary objects than of investing scenes withmeaning that go beyond their surface and outward appearance.


这篇文章估计很多同学读过，里面有一句话，估计大家读了也没在意，但仔细琢磨，有那么一些问题，将句子浓缩后：anyone will know how much less pervasive was the habit of A than (the habit) of B... 这里为什么用倒装将was提前？how much引导的宾从难道要倒装吗？难道不应该是：anyone will know how much less pervasive the habit of A was than (the habit) of B...
请问倒装的依据是什么？