I agree the kart doesn't know when the corner ends..... but YOU (the driver) do! And that's how you plan your entry and exit speeds.
If you have the chassis perfectly set-up then, if you still have to add lock, then you are going too slowly and the back is not 'hung-out': if you are going too fast, you will oversteer off with the rear sliding (and opposite lock applied). The middle "Goldilocks" position is what we are after!
However, if you still have to apply lock to complete the corner by the time you are exiting, then you have NOT set the chassis up correctly and you probably have too much understeer. Reduce that and you'll go faster.
This is where we can see the 'phases' of the corner. You require a different amount of 'oversteer/understeer' to start the corner than you do to traverse and then complete the corner.
The thing about lifting the inside wheel is complex. However, you only need to lift (lighten) it to allow the front wheels to bite and START of the corner entry. The caster angle raises one front wheel UP which allows the kart to 'see-saw' over onto the lifting the diagonally opposite rear wheel. Without that, the two 'stronger' rear tyres would overwhelm the steering-tyres and you'd understeer straight off the corner.. BUT....Once you have completed the turn-in phase, then it's my contention that you SHOULD return to 'dead-ahead'. At 'dead ahead' then there IS no lock applied and thus the caster angle DOES NOT apply lift to the rear at all! In effect, you have returned the chassis to 'flat'.
With regard to drag through the corner. The drag is only applied when lock is applied. If you are steering dead ahead, then you have no drag. The earlier you can get the kart to dead-ahead, then the earlier you can apply power and the more effect that will have as there is almost zero resistance. If you are applying lock AND applying full throttle, then you are using the engine to fight the drag and thus cornering.... which is wasteful when you COULD be using that power to start the acceleration for the next straight. In my opinion, that's why the 'quick boys' seem to exit a corner faster. It's so effective that it LOOKS as though they have a motor with more power: they don't, they just don't waste that power on scrubbing (dragging) the front tyre out of the corner.
It's difficult to answer all the questions in one reply: sorry if I've missed anything.
I hope you notice, we haven't required the concept of 'release' here at all!
Ian
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