Memories - well I haven't seen a Dwell meter since my Teens, when I had an after Scool job @ VAG (VW, Audi) ....
Funny that Crysler shorted the Resistor during Cranking as it gets more and more important to have the Resistor in Circuit the lower the RPM.
For the slightly more electricly inclined : Any Coil has a reluctance to change the Current through it (measured in Henries) - the higher the Value, the longer it takes to 'Charge the Coil' for the next spark - but it also means a stronger spark needed for higher Powered Engines. As this has a negative sideeffect in a much higher amount of Power wasted in the Coil @ lower RPM's - somtimes to the point of destruction of the Coil - especially at a stopped Engine with the Ignition applied or at Cranking speeds ....
Some smart Engineer realized that if you needed to use a High Power Ignition Coil optimized for high RPM's - just add a simple Power Resistor in series with the Coil, as the Resistor absorbs the extra Power @ low RPM's and don't have any influence @ high RPM's.
I know it sounds Counter Intuitive - and I felt the same way as those you describe Steve (short the Resistor) - but it works perfectly with it if all the Values are correct.
In my case it was not until working with my first CNC Router, that I read a great explanation on how it worked - both with graphich and Math examples - Google is your friend again here ....
A modern ECU uses either 'Racing Coils' as it calculates when it needs to turn on the Coil, so it just reaches Saturation @ the time when it Fires the Spark.
Some newer versions even has an ability (+ sensor in the Coil) to just use as much Power as needed (but not more) to safely fire the Plug - so it adjust the Current in the Coil continuesly.
Per