Target Blocks and Pistons don't actually redirect redstone

I've tested on both a single player world and on a realm. I noticed that despite using a target block and a piston to redirect redstone coming out of a repeater into a block that would, if not redirected, power a block, visually looks redirected, still powers said block. I also tested the redstone redirection with other redstone components it is properly redirected the redstone, visually and mechanically.