michman
Newly Enlightened
There's no point giving someone a tool they've never needed before.
I once would have agreed with this point, but now that I have given so many E01's and E05's as gifts to people who never would have carried a light in the first place I can attest to the lights being generally appreciated in due time. I have always been pleased to hear people wonder out loud how they made it this far without having a light on them all the time.
I think the key when giving a flashlight as a gift to a nonflashaholic is that it needs to be keychain sized (AAA), and the battery needs to run for a long time, and be easily replaceable. I have given Photon Microlights in the past, but the problem with those was that once the battery died, it was a $5 to replace them, and required tools (if only a flat screwdriver).
The way I judge the light to give is: E01 for those who just need a general light, will likely only be used indoors, or in the civilized world (parking lots, closets, driveway to the door, etc.). The E05 goes to those who already use lights, but have not updated their lights in a decade or more OR to those who camp, are trades people, or generally handy. A real light for when they do not have their big one on them.