i can see the visual differences between a longbow and a hybrid but for all intents and purposes is it worth making a difference?

I guess I would also need to hear the definition of the hybrid bow if anyone could please educate me on this.

widow,  they are names to describe shapes... essentially.  You know what a recurve is.  You know what a classic Hill style( D shaped when strung)longbow looks like.  

A hybrid is a name that has been bestowed on what seems to be a more modern blending that starts with a deflexed riser and reflexed limbs and that (now) classic sweeping limb shape that kinda sorta resembles a recurve bow with skinny limbs.  

Still, in all,  I believe it is held that if the string touches the limbs after the nocks, it is a recurve and if not it is a longbow.

ChuckC

so if im understanding this right, what most call a reflex/deflex longbow is actually a hybrid?

A hybrid has a reflex/deflex limb and a more sculpted handle similiar to a recurve.  The Martin Viper is a good example.

The D-bow owes it's shape to the cross section of it's limbs, not the shape while strung.  A lot of bows like this in fact have a little setback that can be seen while unstrung.  Their limbs are thicker front to back then the typical reflex/deflex with a taper toward the belly side.  Howard Hill's bow are the classic example.

Longbows. The straighter the better