I think that in any of these cases, if we think about it, we'll find that there's a difference in meaning, sometimes subtle, sometimes not so subtle, between the two words. We'll also probably find that the longer term is often misused for the shorter term.

For example, historic, to me, carries a weight that historical doesn't. "This historic occasion…" vs. "the historical marker on Rte. 13 marking the site of…".