ml wrote:
"wouldn`t my antenna then become the "best" ground or path of least
resistance and thusly ""attract"" the lightning."

That seems right and conductivity does not have to be high. Ben Franklin
found the conductivity of twine sufficient. He drained charge from the
atmosphere by placing fis kite high.

Height is shown to attract lightning bolts to grounded towers used for
various purposes. Many are hit by nearly every passing thunderstorm.
Towers take lightning bolts. They don`t always if ever discharge the
earth and atmosphere in their area to eliminate hits. They do seem to
divert strikes in their vicinity and offer some protection to their
surroundings.

I`ve spent years in broadcast plants and seen many lightning strikes. If
you build it they will come.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI