Jimmie wrote:
"I would not even say it is canceled in the far field although this is a
convenient way of looking at radiation."

Kraus writes on page 23 of his 1950 "Antennas":
"Directivity=maximum radiation/average radiation.

The radiation is in watts per sq. mtr.

The famous round balloon example applies. The balloon is filled with so
much air (an analog for the radiated energy). Squeeze the balloon.
Energy like air, increases in the directions it isn`t squeezed in, but
the total amount of air is unchanged and like the balloon air, the
radiated energy total is a constant in the analog.

The idea that energy still exists where suppressed by interference is
illogical.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI