John,
Thanks for the long observations.
My take away from it is your observation that CTE is the approximate mid point between the straight in shot and the thin 90 degree cut angle shot. It’s a good stance to start with before the small adjustments you mention.
I also appreciate your observation that the center to center, CTE and the GB to CB lines converge at the center of the CB and proceed in back of the CB to the shooters eye creating angles.
What we all find difficult is to define the geometry of CTE in 2 dimensions (viewed from above) for what makes it work is our perception of 3D perspective (viewed from the shooters eye/s). As the distance between the CB and OB from our eye/s increases, the OB appears to get smaller and the angles you describe behind the CB becomes narrower.
This narrowing of the angle forces a new stance (closer to the initial CTE) for the same cut angle at different distances between the CB and OB and eye/s although the shot proportionally appears to be the same. Another way of saying what you said….I believe.
As you know, I am a double distance aim shooter and only use GB when the CB and OB are very close to each other. I have not embraced CTE because it isn’t parsimonious with the shift, bridge distance adjustments and pivot that need to be mastered and stored in memory.
Where both the GB and DD aiming breaks down is on thin cuts like 85-90 degrees for the aim line is away from the discernable OB edge and on the felt or cushion. So I have found that CTE with the secondary aim point of the CB edge to the opposite OB edge; ½ cut tip offset and pivot is becoming more accurate…for me.
These recent threads since the deliveries of the DVD have converged with PMs from Spidy, Mike and Pete have made me experience an epiphany …the light has been turned on.
I realize that there are many who will benefit from CTE, once it is explained in these recent threads for we all don’t visualize diagrams or interpret verbal descriptions the same.
I appreciate your persistence, descriptions and demonstrations.
Thank you for all you do and have done to advance CTE.
You're welcome. To be honest I don't think I have done anything to advance CTE and probably have turned a few people off with my excessive cheerleading. Pat Johnson would most likely still be here if I hadn't responded to his condescension with plenty of my own sarcasm.
What I think is important though is that if we start trying to diagram this from the cueball----->object ball--------->pocket relationship then it will never work to understand it.
This is where things break down because GB is easily diagrammed with that relationship. ALL GB diagrams can start with the GB------->pocket and that's enough for any person to understand in seconds with no questions needed.
Kind of like viewing Google Earth sometimes zooming out to show the larger picture reveals the directions better than street view.
When the CTE Line is extended back through the Cue Ball to the shooter then to me it becomes clearer where the bridge hand goes and what sort of pivot to center ball produces the Shot Line.
Dave Segal's Shot Circle, Stan Shuffet's eyes lead-body follows type of instructions become much clearer at that point.
And to me once you can see the Shot Line as given to you by starting with the CTE line then you can move your bridge hand anywhere you like as long as the cuestick stays on that line. How big is this? Well, how about finding the shot line when you are jacked up over a ball and must bridge at one point only?
So you can do it all "in the air" and find the shot line and then simply put your hand down and be on the right line.
So then you don't have to worry about things like bridge distance, you can bridge at 5" or 18" whatever is comfortable.
And here is the thing with distance. The CTE line is the same whether the object ball is two feet away or eight feet away. The amount of the pivot is the same - be it a half ball mechanical pivot or a one tip pivot as described on Stan's DVD - it the same every shot.
What changes with distance is the angle of the shot line relative to the CTE line.
But guess what? Coming out of the back of the cueball to the bridge hand the difference from widest to narrowest is minimal. Thus the shooter can rely on the CTE line and the bridge hand placement + pivot to bring him to the shot line even if he doesn't know the exact angle of the shot line.
This is where "feel" comes into the picture.
With a little practice seeing the CTE line at distance and a little practice putting the bridge down on the CTE line (with the bridge V just off the CTE line) and the cut tip pointing at the edge of the object ball the shooter can start to see and feel what's right.
HERESY cries the CTE Hieracrchy, "we knew it" shouts the Scientists.
But it's not all feel or subconscious adjustment.
It's "feel" on steroids.
Because the CTE line gives you not only the starting alignment FROM the cueball to the object ball to the pocket. In other words the CTE line says stand here if you want ANY CHANCE at making this ball.
Then the CTE line comes back through the cue ball and says - put your hand on me and swing the cue to center ball and you SHOULD be on target.
That's the basics of it and is why some people "get it" right away and others struggle.
Some people are like cool, I see that - works awesome. And other people are like bridge hand where? Pivot how much? Ass pivot? How far away to bridge? What offsets? The only thing that everyone is somewhat clear on is that the starting point is the center of the cueball to the edge of the object ball.
But even that isn't totally clear when Dave Segal talks about outermost edges and poking your head out.
The point is that there is a certain amount of getting used to coming into the ball a different way that people need to work on. There are nuances that need to be practiced. CTE is not a 1-2-3 prescription to never missing. But it is a damn good guideline to getting to the SHOT LINE for any shot.
I certainly believe that you could work out a perfect table for placement of the bridge V to the side of the CTE line for every type of cue ball - object ball distance. I am sure of it given that no matter what the shot is there is a set range from the CTE line where the bridge V can be placed in order to pivot to center ball and be on the shot line.
But I don't think that it's needed because of the feel component. I do think that once you use the CTE line then your focus becomes so honed that the feel part of aiming is diminished to an ever so slight movement of the bridge hand when placing it on the CTE line.
And I do think that there are many ways to achieve the same thing, including your Double the Distance, 90/90, basically anything which allows the shooter to use the real balls to measure and align with works. As does the Ghost Ball system for those who can accurately imagine the ghost ball's placement. After all you have to have a real ball to start with.
I just think it is important that all system do reconcile with GB because at the end of the day in order to be valid they must send the cueball right through the GB.
GB has to be the litmus test for an aiming system and the aiming system has to show HOW the system brings the cue stick in line with the GB.
For me, NOW, finally, this is clear. Last night I showed it to my wife and she got it right away. She is not a pool player.
I could show Pat Johnson how CTE works now.
I m extremly curious if it will work without gettin 1vs1 information/lesson. 
