Keith wrote:
"I conclude from this response that you are unable to detect any flaws
in the logic of steps 1 to 8."

They are contradictory. That`s a fatal flaw.

Volts and amps on a transmission line are manifestations of E&H fields
guided by the line. These fields are generating the volts and amps seen
on the line as the wave travels along its length.

Even a hard short or an open circuit doesn`t annihilate the signal on a
line. The short or open only produces a reflection.

At the open or short, amps or volts are forced to zero. That event
forces the energy which had resided in the H-field or E-field to
temporarily be accomodated in the field which is its partner in
transporting energy. This doubles volts right at the open or doubles
amps right at the short.. This single field is only temporary because in
a very short travel distance, energy is again balanced between the two
fields.

Note that the open or short does not stop energy flow. It just turns it
around as a reflection. This happens at an actual discontinuity. At an
SWR interference point, nothing upsets energy flow at all in a uniform
line. SWR nulls are just demonstrations of commingled waves passing
through each other without serious consequence. For the nth time, were
you to separate the going and coming signals, you would find no
variation in average signal power in either direction along the line at
any point, including the SWR nulls..

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI