Strobing:
The when and where questions are still being formed and answered.
Using the flashlight in strobe mode and not having the time behind the gun/light is problematic.
From my experience strobing light is an option and when properly employed is devastating to opponents.
The counter-balance is it by definition less light and that light output is presented in a way that you cannot discriminate as well. It can be in fact disorienting to yourself and others in your element.
So, learn to find the time frames that is it most appropriate to go to strobe.
I think most who have spent some reasonable time experimenting would agree, that is is exceptionally effective when the subject is located and you would like someone to close the gap on that individual. Strobing lights disrupts the subject's depth perception, spacial orientation, balance and degrades their peripheral vision.
How much do I need to see right now versus what I want potential threats to perceive is really an important consideration when stalking in the dark.
It's all a balancing game and I like to use extremes sometimes to illustrate the point.
Stepping away from strobe mode for a second and simply dealing with ON or OFF.
The best way for me to see in dark is to turn on all the lights in the structure, turn on any and all flashlights on my person and leave it on.
Yes, I see everything as well as it could be seen right now....Then again so does the opponent(s).
Additionally, instead of controlling when, when and for how long light does appear, I have created an equal opportunity situation for all combatants including those that might want to kill me.
Personally I don't like an even playing field when weapons are involved.
So IF you elect to intermittently use your lights in any fashion to mask some of your movements and timing, you are are doing that at the expense of seeing everything at all times.
The benefits of intermittent use of light clearly outweigh a Constant ON application of light in many situations.
Intermittent, Strobing light is an extension of this principle on the far end of the scale.
Over time, through training, you will find that you can in fact "see" and understand the environment you are with very rapid/short bursts of light and you don't need to walk around like a bored security guard shining a flashlight around the building with no real purpose.
To the degree that you can do this is directly related to how much time you spend honing the skill. Less skilled individuals and teams need longer durations and higher quantity light bursts to perceive what is happening, there is no way around it. Searching in Strobe mode is probably out.
On the flip side, if you ever get the opportunity to try your hand in Force-on-Force against a skilled group of individuals that use the strobe mode as a swarming team, I believe you might suddenly realize their is more to use of flashlight than originally assumed.
To each his own.
Respectfully,
Ken J. Good