I like high-ring count yew best, but not because it could maybe possibly be denser, but because it tends to have less pin knots. The rare 50 plus ring count yew tends to be from trees growing in the shadow of a giant fir or cedar, typically butted right up to the north side of the big tree in a stand of old growth, consequently, it has less pin knots and limbs. Not sure if that is why high-ring count got its reputation as better, but there seems to be a correlation from what I have seen.
That looks like some good yew Don. Personally, I wouldn't reduce the sapwood.
