Those pin heat sinks aren't that great really. They're actually designed to be used in a tilted position. They get little air flow when vertical, because the bottom, where the COB attaches, is solid, no air holes. If you compare the specs to those of the Mechatronix ones, which are sort of a spiral design, you'll see that they have lower thermal resistance than the pins. The pins are good for what they're designed for, just not for vertical applications. I really don't know why they're so popular. They are far from being the best option available.
Same with those finned heat sinks people used for a while, the kind you buy by the foot. They only really work well when they are vertical so that air flows upward between the fins, meaning the COBs would be shining sideways.