cratz2, all good insights.
maybe i can shed some additional light (pun intended) on low-light shooting:
i too had thought that muzzleflash would be a problem but i don't find that to be the situation in practice. i have a steel-plate shooting range (ranges from 5 to 1000 yards) and have done a little bit of night work over the last 30 years.
even with low-level flashlights, ammo flash hasn't been a problem with any of the 45s and 9s i've tried. even 16" ARs aren't a problem, though i've been around shorter AR barrels (10") that give off a blinding ball of flame that effects one's shooting. and i suspect a hot revolver (like a full house 44 mag) could be a bit of a problem too.
maybe it's the flash-reducing ingredients they add to modern powders that helps so much (loads flashed much worse years ago).
i actually find the reflections bouncing back from a very bright flashight coming off close targets more blinding than the flashes themselves.
and after personally testing a number of options, i'd rather make a shot using a so-so weapon-mounted system than using the finest handheld light with a separate weapon. i've practiced techinques using numerous flashlight/weapon holds (Harries, Marine Corps, FBI, Chapman, old & new Ayoob, Hargreaves, Keller, Neck-Index and Rogers) but i find every one of them take more thought/energy/time to get in action, and are less accurate, than using an Arc mounted hard to the gun. but that's just my opinion...
fyi - i've done a bit of shooting in total darkness using an ITT Gen 3 PVS-14 night vision device (with both handguns and rifles) and even then i don't find the flash to be a problem while looking though the scope. it does bloom for a split second but i don't lose the target or find it upsets my shooting.
and as you pointed out, training is an absolute necessary. most folks should buy fewer weapons (and useless accessories) and get some real training instead.
and who here isn't looking for the newest & greatest XRE 'light?... that's why we're CPF'ers!