Oh, I agree to that, especially in the case of the .357 Mg., since there was no cartridge that was simply called a .357 as a frame of reference. The .38 Special was called a 'special' to separate it from the .38 LC and, I suppose the .38 S&W. But what I am getting at is not so much the reasons for the "honorific" as it is to how do those terms strike you when you see, or hear them as a matter of semantics.The addition of the wording "Magnum" was more of a marketing thing to try & sell the new caliber(s) not a way of measuring what a cartridge would do or not do.
I can get all the performance I need from a mid sized revolver using the 41 special case. I tried the 250gr in a mid sized frame and I can tell you it was not fun.As mentioned above the 41 Special was a "simple" rebore of the barrel and chambers. And
a 220 grain at about 1200 is achievable.
However the original GP cylinder is too short for the magnum case except with shortest bullets.
I suppose a custom long cylinder would be possible but I've never heard of it being done.
"how do those terms strike you when you see, or hear them as a matter of semantics. "
If you truly study the naming of caliber & cartridges, it can be an exercise in frustration trying to figure out everything. It's one of those topics that can confuse & upset new people in firearms.
There was no "standard" method of naming stuff decades (or even centuries) ago. So, when I hear the word "magnum," or "special" I just figure it's another name for a different caliber. I know that as a "new" caliber,, it has to be able to be different than a previous caliber,, even when it's close to one.
I guess I'm saying, to answer your question, personally I don't even consider it at all.