The fact that your lower hose is cool to touch is a good thing. That means that your radiator is working well. Hot coolant enters the top and is cooled by the airflow as it travels down the tubes. Ideally, by the time the fluid reaches the bottom tank it will be the same temp as the air flowing through it.

The thermostat neck is probably the highest temperature the coolant reaches in the circuit, as it is just leaving the motor heading for the radiator.