Good thread, and well discussed. It covers the full gamut of my schizophrenic view on lights (and cameras, lenses, firearms, knives, woodworking tools, my kitchen counter-tops, my backyard grass...).
On the one hand, each serves a utilitarian purpose, and the logical part of my brain wants to subscribe to the view that is very nicely described by Tachead, WebHobbit, and others; that is, form follows function, and the beauty of these physical objects lies in their use, and not in the act of collecting or obsessing to excess. Just as my lawn's true purpose is as a bathroom for my dog, my flashlights' true purposes are to cast light where I need it, when I need it. Collecting and maintaining a visually beautiful amount of green grass above and beyond what my dog needs is just as illogical as collecting and maintaining a collection of flashlights above and beyond my need for handheld light sources.
On the other hand, there is a part of my brain that constantly argues against logic, and insists that the value of many objects lies in some particularly attractive aspect of its construction, execution, design, and/or upkeep. Whether I'm caring for or using my lawn, my revolvers, or my flashlights, that part of my brain often makes a convincing argument for the value of beauty in and of itself, whether it is the beauty of a tool or the beauty of a poem.
So, my collecting habits reflect my dual personality, sometimes consistent with my logical side, and sometimes with my artistic side. I have many flashlights, for example, that I purchased primarily for some amazing (to me) design or manufacturing feature, but I also always have a specific use in mind to allow me to enjoy them, as they say, "IRL."
