Many thanks to you all for the updates. Indeed I am greatly relieved that bootable backups may continue as in the past, or nearly so. Of course, real-world confirmation will go a long way towards putting this issue to rest.
Harv 27" i7 iMac (10.13.6), iPhone Xs Max (12.1)
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire