How can I replace the IF function using multiplication when also returning text values?

I use the product of the logical test and the value_if_true instead of using an IF function when the following two conditions are satisfied:

1. value_if_true is a number
2. value_if_false is zero

When the conditions are met test*value_if_true is equivalent to IF(test,value_if_true,if_false)

Example:

   IF Function      test * if_true
-----------------+------------------
  =IF(TRUE,4,0)  |  =TRUE*4  
  =4             |  =4       
                 |
  =IF(FALSE,4,0) |  =FALSE*4
  =0             |  =0

Adapt for text

I want to apply a similar approach but change the value_if_true from a number to a text string.

The two conditions would now be:

1. value_if_true is a text string
2. value_if_false is zero.

The formula test*if_true doesn't work in this case:

=TRUE*"text"     =FALSE*"text"
=#VALUE!         =#VALUE!

Is there a way to adapt the formula so that it can accept values for value_if_true that are text strings?

I want to use it in long complex formula with both text and numbers and want to make combinations using * and + instead of AND and OR