yeah, they are designed to go into a projector, but a lot of people don't take the time and money to retrofit a projector into their stock light housings so the added light from the HID bulb just gets reflected all over the place from a normal reflective style headlight housing.

Personally, I'm going to retro fit the projectors from a LS430 in my 300zx. It already has projectors, but I love the wide light pattern of the LS430.
Might move the stock projector over to the high beam spot when I put HIDs in for that. Only ever use the high beams when I need to light up the whole road, usually in poorly lit neighborhoods so I can see the loose dog or dumb kid before I run them over.