I have seen the same equipped boats with the steer cylinders completely different. One has the steer cylinders mounted as the outer corners of the transom reaching inward to the drives and another has the cylinders between the drives. Is there any handling or dynamic reason for each location? Is one better than the other? Does it make any difference at all? Is it just a preference thing?
I don't know about installation on these things so I wonder why I see the differences?
Is there any difference with hydraulic cylinder location on triples vs doubles?

No difference in handling just personal preference. Ease of installation may determine one way or another. Inside mount uses shorter cylinders than outside so make sure you know where your mounting when ordering. Triples will have to use an outside location with a tie bar connecting all three drives

Are the installations with center mounts and shorter cylinders weaker or have less leverage than longer rams spread out to the corners?

I have seen triples done both ways too.

The shorter rams do not allow the drives to turn as far. That does not matter much on twins though.

I don't see how a trip boat could have them in the center????

Outer is better. It is stronger.
Such is also one of the reasons why external hydraulic steering is better than ITS.

The nice thing about inside cylinders is if you have a tie bar failure the drives will not collide with each other and do additional damage

Mark