If you read usage manuals for HID lamps, there is stated, then the lantern should not reflect IR back to the lamp. It is there, as unlike on MV, the radiation is the only significant cooling mechanism for the arctube, as the outer bulb is evacuated. (in MV the arctube run cooler, so significant portion of dissipation goes via gas convection and not as much is radiated, so possible to reflect back)
As i know many fixtures, this requirement is very often not fulfilled (mainly on fixtures originally designed for MV), so no wonder. Furthermore, new arctube designs are smaller for the same wattage (to yield higher pressure, so better CRI), so much more sensitive for such reflection.
I know some older HPS fixtures that has the same design as a MV reflector, and I haven't seen any issues of early cycling issues on those.....
Also in my area, the state and another electrical companies uses smaller sized fixtures for 250 watt, which causes early cycling while my electrical company uses the bigger fixtures which def prevents early cycling since I don't see cyclers often on GE M-400A3 with 250 watt HPS...a 250 watt in a GE M-250R2 doesn't seem too bad but can be an issue on OVH....
In another electric company, I notice its the newer OVH that always cycles and never gets fixed quickly and thus having a dark or badly lit roads while older installations continues to work in older fixtures which usually have older designs....