Art, KB9MZ wrote:
"Thus this is inferior to a vertical that captures the low angles and
discriminates against the high angles plus inferior to a poor vertical
that discriminates against low angles."

Yes, a vertical discriminates against high angles as it has a null in
its pattern overhead.
What "poor vertical" discriminates against low angles if ground
conductivity is OK? A too-short vertical still has maximum radiation
toward the horizon though it has less than a 1/4-wave or 5/8-wave
vertical antenna has.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI