Is tonearm bias a compromise, maybe a myth?

Record playback involves many compromises, but anti-skating (or lateral bias) is one of the biggest. Following the turntable manufacturers instructions for setting anti-skating often results in far more lateral force than what is needed.

If you want to experiment with it, add the very smallest amount of weight back (you can even try a lighter weight than supplied with the table), and gradually increase it while carefully listening.

Your VTF is very light which would normally call for a smaller anti-skating force, but you may want to also increase the VTF in small increments into the upper ranges of the cartridge manufacturers recommended settings until the combination of settings results in the most pleasing sound.

Some turntables actually work best with no anti-skating.

I use no anti skate with my zyx Universe. Info from posters here on Audiogon had much influance on trying none. I have tried it with the Triplanar with slight differences but nothing that I could say that I could dial in. With the Raven 10.5 I got bigger differences but again nothing I could dial in. No anti skate works best with the Universe on two arms. Just one guys experience.

TD

the anti skate required is a function of the tone arm and cartridge combination. It cannot be correctly set by matching the tracking weight. A test record with oscilloscope is the best method to set tracking pressure and antiskate. the sine wave will show deformity until both are correctly adjusted. If you do not have an oscilloscope, listening to the test tones for uneven distortion can approximate the correct antiskating.

Incorrectly set antiskating will cause 1 side of the stylus to wear out sooner than necessarry.

Wow, setting anti-skate by scope? I'm sure it produces great results but did manufactorers really expect customers to calibrate at this level?