Ten years ago, I was stunned when I saw that people would sell used flashlights for 10% off new price. I never understood the mindset of buying used for so little a discount. Yet it happened regularly.
It seems to me that not just the marketplace has dropped off, but pretty much the whole site has dropped off. Back in the day, when someone asked for a particular recommendation of a light for a particular purpose, there would be a clear winner, or a small group of winners to choose from. A person may take pride in his knowledge of the subject, and make a recommendation.
As time went on, many lights came into being that the differences among similar classes of lights, were smaller, and overlapping so much so, that there often, isn't a clear winner anymore. There is now a much larger number of lights competing within the same class.
Once I got all the lights I need, (to the point of being excessive) I lost interest in trying new LEDs, or new lights, just to see if I liked them better. Over time, I found that my "special knowledge" was lost to the average Joe. Many were delighted with the cheap Zoomies with their blue green tint.
I haven't kept up with the knowledge of the differences in different LEDs, so my knowledge is no longer special. Nor have I compared the multitude of similar lights. Therefore I am not comfortable in making a specific recommendation, and usually, don't even check the "make me a recommendation" thread.
I remember when the Fenix TK35 was all the rave and it was often the clear winner. I bought one on the market place. I wonder... is it ever recommended anymore?