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@GA2G
This is a deeply cretinous statement, or a wind-up.
A good rear light, with fresh-ish batteries, can be seen for hundred(s) of feet or even yards. As hippy said, a fluoro jacket has restrictions on its visibility. One of them, is that over time, and after washes, it becomes less reflective, and it appears many owners ignore that. Also, flouro jackets reflect light best when light is reflected back from where it came - ie. 90degrees. But how many riders ride a Pederson, so that they are sitting straight up, and are not bent over forwards? Therefor the full reflectiveness of the jacket will not be achieved. And when the jackets get dirty, they reflect much less, whereas a simply wipe of the rear light, will clean it effectively.
The most powerful rearlights, which nearly blind other riders and cars drivers can (and maybe should) be positioned so that they point ever so slightly down, instead of directly backwards. Since some of these lights, like the Dinottes, actually are powerful enough to reflect back up from the road, then slightly lowering the angle would still be a safe option, with the benefit, that if it is raining, there will be a red glow on the road behind you.
I also think very negatively of cyclists I see, that think being in fluoro is the same as following the law on bicycle lighting. Yes, I RLJ, but only if there is NO traffic coming the other way. I'm sure someone will want to point out that my view is therefore invalid, .........and that is that person's perogative.
Lastly, and most important, is that if any rider has an accident at night, and was not using front and rear lights at the time, they will get nothing from the courts, and nothing from a car driver's insurance company. Good luck with that.
None of my lights are expensive, but one of them (frontlight - unbelievably from ARGOS), is as bright as I could want on city commuting). Yes, my commuting now is nearly always when it is dark. And I use 2 lights when its not completely dark, but 3 lights when there is no sun at all. One light (a red rear light), I position on my shoulder strap (gaffer-taped) of my Timbuk2. Its on my right shoulder, so motorists appraching from the rear see a red flashing light on my seatpost, and another red flashing light on my shoulder.
Riding with no lights shows contempt of selfworth IMO.