Only the first scratch or ding hurts. Most of my "expensive" lights are a pleasure to use. Great UI, beam, tint, ergonomics, material, build quality, etc. are what make them expensive and a pleasure to use. I also frequently use a lanyard - one end clips to a belt loop on my pants and the end is clipped or tied to the light and the lanyard is long enough so it doesn't hinder using the light, but short enough so if I drop the light, it doesn't hit the ground. I started doing this when I used to do a lot of salt water fishing. I got tired of dropping knives, pliers, and other tools in the water. The lanyard can be ornate (braids and fancy knots) or very simple. Both types work.