Richard Clark wrote:
"For short antennas and low horizontals, there is almost no
directionality."

True, assuming the the low horizontal ian`t a Beverage or similar wave
antenna.

Ferrite loopsticks have broadside to the axis of te rod sensitivity as
compared to air-core loops which are sensitive in the plane of the loop.

Daytime MW propagation is via the groundwave which is confined to
vertical polarization beyond the line of sight distance.

An L-antenna is using its horizontal portion as a capacitive hat for its
vertical portion which is the real antenna during the daytime hours.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI