I have read where the cfl bolbs put out more light along the lenght of the bulb rather than the end of the bulb. This looks like it makes since but I see alot of setups where they mount the bulb pointing straight down? Wouldn't a horizonal mount with a top reflector get more light out of the bulb? It doesn't seem to cost any more to build a fixture with a top reflector.
You would be correct good sir. You will get more light out of a horizontally mounted cfl than a vertically mounted one.
It is true that a CFL above the plants mounted horizontally will shed more of its light on the plants than a vertical mount, especially with a reflector. But it is not as easy to do, that's why you see some people with vertical CFLs.