Could be true, but I don't think the filiment placement makes that much of a difference... at least in the tail lights. That type of design feature would only be used in headlights for the high/low beam pattern as you probably already know. Both tail-lights and brake lights have the same "viewing" angle... and if there was any difference in the angle of the beam pattern, it would all be scattered anyway from the pillow lens of the tail-light. My experience with the halogen "upgrades" for tail-lights, brake lights, and reverse lights have been the same as yours. In fact, the 50w halogen reverse light is not very much brighter, if any brighter, than the standard 3157 bulb in there right now. Definitely not worth the extra draw on the alternator. I don't understand how it can draw 50 watts and not be that much brighter than the standard bulb. If 55w fog lights are as bright as they are, why isn't 50w halogens in these 1157/3157 replacements almost as bright as the fog lights? Doesn't make sense to me.