And how often do you hear people whine about .32-20 Marlin vs, .32 W.C.F. or .44-40 Marlin vs. .44 W.C.F. or .38-40 ....which really aught to be the .40-40.
It's endless.
Clearly ammo manufacturers identified the need for the .45 LC label very early in the marketing process. Adding "long" to a cartridge was not unlike "special" or "magnum". "Ultra Magnum"
It was just another way to say mine is bigger than yours.