Yokes, what's the difference?

[Don Lindsly]

Your thinking makes sense. Consider these factors as well. Maximum energy is at the center of the yoke. It is wound so as to deflect the beam with no neck shadows. Sharper deflection angles require flaring out the front to move the energy as close to the CRT bell as possible.

The yoke does look more like as inductor. The inductive energy stored during the trace scan is released on retrace. That energy is rectified by the damper and added to B+ to develop the higher boost voltage. The diode action also dampens the retrace ringing as well. To a point, higher inductance is beneficial. You will notice when you disconnect the yoke, the boost voltage decreases.

Cosign wound is intended to compensate for the varying distance from the electron gun to the screen, depending on beam position. With this compensation, linearity would be more difficult to achieve.

Don