Dan, K6MHE wrote:
"My only point is that it makes no difference if an antenna`s is
resonate or not in determining how much energy it grabs."

Not in the "grand scheme of things", perhaps, but a resonant antenna
extracts more energy when swept by a traveling wave than an
off-resonance conductor does at the same distance from the transmitter.

On some occasion you may have adjusted the antenna trimmer on a receiver
and found a signal peak. That adjustment balanced out the reactance in
the antenna system leaving only the antenna resistance to oppose current
flow in the antenna. Proper adjustment maximizes antenna current induced
by the wave.

The mechanism is simple. The antenna is a series RLC circuit. Current in
the antenna is a function of the field strength divided by the impedance
of the RLC circuit. Impedance to antenna current is least when all of
the reactance has been eliminated. You have probably experienced peaking
the signal this way with your ears, a meter, or an oscilloscope.

Let`s look at an oft repeated type of true story by John E. Cunningham
in his "Complete Broadcast Antenna Handbook":

"Not every tall structure will affect the pattern of a broadcast
station. The effect on the pattern depends on the height of the
structure. In one case, a microwave tower was erected, one section at a
time, near a 4-tower directional antenna system. As construction
progressed, the current in one tower began to drop as each new tower
section was added to the microwave tower. The current continued to drop
until it nearly reached zero. But, as more sections were added to the
microwave tower, the current began to rise. When the microwave tower
reached its final height, all of the tower currents of the broadcast
antenna, as well as the pattern, were normal.

Resonance, or lack of resonance, makes all the difference!

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI