Owen Duffy wrote:
. . .
Ed, it seems to me that in comparing similar resonant (80m) loaded
verticals, the one with the worst VSWR (direct fed at the base) is
probably the most efficient one. This implies that the antennas that are
advertised with a low direct feed VSWR are less efficient, they pad the
antenna with lossy loading to improve the VSWR.

This is often the case, especially with small mobile antennas. It has
the added advantages of making an antenna more broadband and quieter,
both considered virtues by amateurs. The closer an antenna resembles a
dummy load, the better it's perceived to be.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL