Does Earth have two high-tide bulges on opposite sides? (2014)

The explanation is phenomenal. I particularly like the elevation heat map, which helps me intuitively grasp what is going on.

This raises a question for me though: why do we show the tidal bulge graphic in any educational context? Like OP, the "far bulge" was always the most surprising and difficult-to-grasp part of the image. But this explanation would indicate that the far bulge is almost totally pointless as a concept, given the complexities of the system. Given it's the least intuitive part of the image, it invites additional consideration. But it's all the wrong consideration!

The model would be more useful if it only showed the bulge on the moon side, and excluded the far side bulge. It would still be wildly imprecise, kind of like the orbital model of atoms is wildly imprecise, but at least it would be a slightly more accurate (and useful) initial mental model.

It's an idealized model, accurate if Earth had only a single all encompassing deep ocean. Idealized models are good pedagogic tools to build corrections upon.

It's similar to depiction of projectile motions as parabola s. The trajectories of artillery shells ar not like that, but helps get started.