Ron, thanks for the lagering on the yeast cake comment - I do remember reading years back that the German use horizontal lagering tanks to let the yeast settle on more surface area, which makes more of the yeast in the lagering tank available to clear up the beer.
Budweiser uses the beechwood strips to give more area for the yeast to settle onto. Don't know the tank geometry.
I have thought of tranfering some yeast into the corny when racking, then lagering on the side. Afraid of leaks, but I might try that some day if I have room in the lagering freeze. I can fit 8 standing up. Need to see how many go in laying down.