I'm not sure I would agree that an L1 on low is a great reading light - surely better than nothing, and probably good enough for a quick check on a map in a car (where there is already some light from the dash). But, when I tried to read a book in a darkened room with it as the only light source, it was not only a pain to hold (as any flashlight would be) but the hot spot didn't cover both pages of a hard cover, which meant I had to move the light as I read. I didn't try for very long, or try my beam shaper (which will go on an L1, but not the A2). It may be that if I let my eyes adjust more, or used the BS it might have worked better.
For reading in the dark, the PT Aurora is my choice.
Then again, my new A2 hasn't shown up just yet...;-)