Columbus Max Appreciation

Am I wrong or do the top tubes on these (and the Landshark) seem like they're oriented the other way around from all the others - i.e. horizontally flattened end at the head tube rather than at the seat cluster? Anyone know why that might be? And what the different ovalising is supposed to achieve?

For the tl:dr crew:
[QUOTE]Quote:
the ovalized tube can be either stiffer or more compliant in a given direction if that is important to the builder... we orient our top tube and down tube on opposing axes at the head tube to soften up the ride, because the top tube will mate better with the tubes at each end, and because we find it attractive.

[/QUOTE]

Anyone else not understand that at all?

The downtube flares out to the left and right at the bottom so you get more contact area with the BB shell. It then flares up/down at the head tube end to give more contact with the head tube. More contact means less twisting and a laterally stiffer frame.

That's a fairly standard rational, right?

Surely a straight(?) oval toptube would mate better at either end than one that's seasoned at one end, right? Or am I missing something obvious?