The //e 80 column firmware allows to switch between 80 and 40 clumns without clearing the screen. So far, I made that feature available via videomode(). However thinking about it once more, I don't see a C program making use of it. A C program rather benefits from the consistent behavior of videomode() always clearing the screen.
Apart from that, the (default) 40 column display and the 40 column display with 80 column firmware active, behave differently (CH vs. OURCH) which causes subtile issues. Those issues can be avoid altogether by simply always deactivating the 80 column firmware when switching from 80 column display to 40 column display.
Of course, those issues are also relevant, if the 40 column display with 80 column firmware is already active when the C program starts. However, I have reasons to believe that running the Apple II in that mode was/is very unpopular.
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