michael:

My apples on M9 and M26 basically go totally unpruned. Height is about 8ft after 9 years. The shoots are really thick but that doesn't hurt a thing with our high light and low humidity. Yes, in good years I have to thin a lot. But this year with 24F May 3 the only fruit is on the very bottom of the trees where the canopy afforded some protection. Next year I'll have a big thinning job unless it freezes again. So my advice is don't prune unless you need to.

Golden Russet on a free standing rootstock is a crazy growing tree that after quite a few years I'm starting to get a decent handle on. Can't claim to be a quick study on this one.

I think you may be dwelling too much on its tip bearing aspect. As long as the scaffolds are not oversized diameter-wise and as long as the tree is reasonably open it will teach you how to prune it if you don't stub cut wood.

When I prune apples I really don't think much about whether they are tip-bearers. Once they begin to bear it is easy to see how and where they do and you can make adjustments then.