My take on the bumpers that stick out alot, and only use the frame horns as attachment points, is that they're actually providing more leverage to mangle the frame horns.
Of course this is still preffered to having a moose go through the grill !
I just wonder if the outlaw and rpg bumpers that mount at the frame horns, and down low at the subframe, aren't more resistant to damaging the frame horns in a frontal impact...
All pure speculation of course, pics of your frame horns will tell the story. Be able to see if they're twisted up, or pushed straight back.