NB, I was referring to my Eznec results, so I was thinking theoretically and not about using an in-line SWR meter. I assume that Eznec5 does about as good as science can calculate using the NEC engine, so I figure the 1.4 SWR was probably very close to a true resistive match indication...in the case I sited.
However, my experience shows me it is likely, using a long feed line with some mismatch, that an SWR meter could show us a 1.1:1 SWR or about any other value we could imagine, depending on the meter's location in the line and some other factors, but that is real world stuff and there are hundreds of ideas regarding feed line affects.
Maybe you consider such affects as minor, but I don't in most cases. One thing is for sure, you'll likely never see the distinction to a point of understanding using an in line meter. I think if you correctly use an analyzer...you might agree.
I've never effectively seen a real world perfectly matched setup, so you could be right, assuming the match was truly resistive. One thing is for sure, as soon as you move the antenna the perfect match is sure to change, and this is not the same claim regarding feed line length...which does not affect the feed point match of an antenna.
With some mismatch I would expect to see feed line transformation, and then it really matters where the meter is located in the feed line, and what the meter might indicate. We hear this discussed (foolin' your meter) all the time on these forums, and there's lots of misinformation and ideas on the subject.
Like I always say in situations like this, "...we're just lucky that Mother Nature doesn't require our radio system to be perfect in order for us to use our radio."
