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Look at the pictures from this year's rally. The black-seats are invisible in the clutter of
surrounding environment. The highly visible frames of lime, red, and yellow trikes are
remarkably evident, and the one picture of a trike with high visibility seat color makes clear
that a black seat may not show wine stains, but it certainly does not optimize safety.

I sewed a blue gear bag to my first Catrike's black seat, and that markedly improved
visibility of my trike from the rear. The rear seat/fender is perhaps 2.5" wide as compared
to the 16" Catrike seat width, as I recall. Like the pictures, the numbers tell the story.

Of Course, more reclined seats will exhibit less color than relatively upright seats.
Nonetheless, I believe that as much or more safety enhancement derives from
a colored seat as from a high visibility flag. Staying alive means doing what
you can with what you got.

The sheepskins are far more visible than the seat fabric because it is picking up light.
The blue frame of Richard's trikes are not particularly visible, in sharp contrast to
his pool noodles. Night time visibility calls for reflective material and lights, as you
note.

Of course, one can simply attach some bright fabric or even a fluo/reflective vest to the
back of the seat and take care of the problem for existing black seats.