Well, I bought a simple 20watt MR16 (not energy saver) today and it was significantly brighter than the energy saver bulb. The model i bought was a flood and not a spotlight, but it worked fine. I don't think I need a spot... the flood provided light to the sides so I can actually see quite a bit of my surroundings.
I will contact bulbs.com and report the bulb being defective too.

Today, I also went ahead and used electrical tape to package my wires into a nice little cord. The velcro fasteners work great. The only permanent attachment is for my taillight. I used a ziptie to attach it to my rear rack. No fuss, no muss. I figure that I can cut off the tie if needed and they are easy to replace. I don't imagine I'll be yanking the system on and off that often.

I'm really pleased. This is brightest light system I have ever had on a bicycle (or handheld for that matter).

I'm thinking about commuting tomorrow... depends on how I feel in the morning.