Yes I do agree inductors can be complicated, I also agree that it very much depends on the perspective and how it is looked at.
I do appreciate everyone's opinions, impressive responses, and for me there is always something to learn from looking at things from another's perspective.
I don't wish to appear argumentative for the sake of argument, after all most of you guys have put inductors to many good uses for a long time
so I will not be arbitrarily dismissing or ignoring any comments.
We all know that counter emf does not actually consume from the supply. Don't we ? In a transformer it simply restricts input current and in a generator it represents the energy transferred
from shaft power (mechanical force) to electrical power in my opinion. All the so called Lenz mitigating devices still output relative to the effect of Lenz.
In a transformer no energy is dissipated due to counter emf. In a motor the effect of back emf does the same thing I think
and in the generator it takes the form of Lenz effect kind of in an inverted way, I think.
I don't think there are any losses involved in the restriction of current in a motor or transformer due to the effect of back or counter emf.
The way most folks refer to back emf which I disagree with most is the recovery of the energy from the magnetic field of a coil using a diode,
the coil is not charged with counter emf and it acts a source of emf to charge the battery or run the load, the way the charge battery is usually
in series with the supply battery presents a counter emf to the value of the charge battery voltage, meaning because of the 12 volts above the
circuit positive rail voltage when the coil discharges it faces 12 volts (counter emf) automatically, if two 12 volt batteries are charged in series, and
those two are in series with the supply battery then the emf produced by the coil faces 24 volts (counter emf) automatically.
if there is any inductance in the discharge path then the emf of the discharging coil is opposed by counter emf produced by that as well because it is causing a change in the current.
In the case of AC sine wave then the emf is constantly changing and so on the decline of the wave there is a constant discharge of magnetic
field energy which appears as emf right along with and aiding the applied emf. After all the energy discharged from the coil was from the applied emf.
Anyway it is an interesting subject. Thanks for the replies so far.
EDIT: (some edits made for clarity, I hope

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Hi Wings, yes that thread does explain some things, that thread needs to be linked in the Don Smith thread on that other forum.

Thanks for digging that up. I'm not sure anyone here requires tuition from Aaron though, meaning no disrespect, to anyone.
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