Good points! Maybe I’m wondering, not what do East coast roasters consider a light roast, but what do East coast consumers expect. I assume Howell knows what he’s about.
In California there are small roasters that sell medium roast labelled light, but they are a minority in my experience. (Chain outfits are a different realm altogether of course.) I can’t judge all of New England from two roasters, much as I would like to ;) and Howell is pretty big.