If the elevated radials on a quarterwave vertical antenna are horizontal,
the radials cancel out the most for the far field. The impedance will
probably be away from 50 ohms and therefore need matching.

If the radials are drooping, the antenna feedpoint impedance is close to 50
ohms.

Is there any advantage in having the radials horizontal to cancel out? Would
there be any advantage for field pattern or for the near field? Would there
be a dissipative effect? The field of the radials only cancels out in the
far field and not the near field, so the radials are still live with RF and
dangerous to touch.