I've been involved in setting up a microwave transmitter, and they do indeed need line of site to operate.
Then you should know about aperture dispersion and aperture coupling. Was that not in your study guide when you got your Radio Engineer license? These relate to methods used in antenna design, and can make the microwave beam more narrow, when used as part of a design. However, a random aperture in a nearby conductive sheet becomes a security issue. Like an opening in a wall with conductive paint,
A light switch hole is a size that will pass microwaves used the 802.11 a/b specs. But you can eliminate the problem by painting the inside of the switch plate.
Of course, we are not talking about antenna design in this topic. We are talking about using paint to eliminate radiation from the router or Desktop or Laptop from escaping from the room and presenting an opportunity for someone in the next room eavesdropping on the private network.
If there is an opening in the wall about the size of a light switch, it becomes a form of aperture coupling and will disperse into a somewhat wider beam. This is not an issue if the spy is 200 yards away. But it is an issue if the spy is just two doors down on the same floor.