I have made them that way, but I really prefer making them across the short way. They can be quicker, longwise, though, and some effects you can't get knitting them the other.
I guess it counts what you want it to look like.
It's my turn to take care of the church linens this month, and I am going crazy wanting to do some fancy work and replace the lavabo towels with something nicer. I haven't committed to anybody about doing this, because I don't know if my hands will gripe a lot. But I've been collecting old books and new about church linens.
My secret desire, I think, is to make a fine linen altarcloth with hand crocheted lace and cutwork and whitework.
Maybe I ought to keep working on my niece's socks for right now, instead.
I also prefer the short way, although I see your point about it being quicker the long way. But for those of us still in the "obsessively counting" stage, 15 or 21 is a lot easier to keep track of than 99, LOL! And I think it is easier to learn on regular needles than on circular, which is what I believe it would take for doing it the long way.
It's nice to plan to do those church projects, but I think you're smart to keep it to yourself until later, maybe even until they are done. I would be interested to see what kind of patterns you're reviewing for this.
I will do scarves until I get really, really good at them, and I'm ready to move on to shawls.
PS. Hobby Lobby had all their knitting needles and accessories on sale for 1/2 price today. I thought fisticuffs were going to break out between otherwise sane-looking women!