After reading all of the posts, it occurred to me to put some of the comments lamenting the dearth of retail shops offering high-quality lighting tools into perspective.
First, the numbers. As of 8.22.2012, there are 142,863 registered members of CPF. If we include a few thousand additional lurkers worldwide, we can round that number up to 145,000, or maybe even 150,000. Worldwide.
The registry however also reports there are only 5,639 ACTIVE members. If I understand this number correctly, this means that there are less than 6,000 of us flashlight geeks around the world who actively participate in this forum. Let's also assume that this number under-counts buyers of quality lights that rarely post, and assume that the number of active flashlight geeks worldwide is about 10,000.
Now, before anybody starts to challenge the numbers, please remember that these statistics are only intended to put into perspective the complaints about a lack of quality lights at retail.
If we assume these numbers are more or less correct, an active population of only 10,000 or so customers worldwide is enough to operate an online business, but I doubt the physical distribution of the membership (with posts in this thread from the UK, Australia, Hungary, Sweden, the US, Chile, Germany, and Texas (some of you will get this inside joke)...will be enough to justify shelf space for high quality (and expensive) lights to a brick & mortar retailer.
So, may I respectfully suggest that rather than complain to the retailer about the limited selection being offered, that we collectively -- each and every one of us -- encourage our local retailers to start carrying better brands and lines? We can start with lights that are not too expensive, but that are better than what's presently on offer. Who knows, over time, the lights available at retail just might start to get better.
