RE: Longbows??????
I hear ya Ossage! Actually I have seen several "longbows" that, when unstrung, I would have sworn were recurves--all the super-short versions. As my favorite bowyer says, "Everything is a trade-off". Can't deny the laws of physics (unless you are a bumblebee), so something has to give somewhere. The 62" version of my favorite bow does have moderate deflex/reflex, but still maintains the look of a longbow--strung or unstrung. A little curved, but obviously not a recurve.
Like you said, it's not a bad thing--I figure I would shoot a recurve if all I had to choose from were straight limbed longbows--just don't get along with them all that well.
Chad