The two most impressive Malkoffs: E2 Super, E1 Hyper Throw
I've have the E2 Super, it's an excellent head. However, the Bodyguard v.2 rated output of 1,150 lumens is clearly evident vs. the E2S, which I measure at about 850 lumens. The BGV2 also "out throws" the E2S by a considerable margin. The 250 lumen step-down rating of the BGV2 is superbly useful for many applications and extends run time to over two hours on a 1200mAh 18350 cell. The smooth, ring-free beam patterns of the E2S and BGV2 are identical, the latter is just brighter.
I have the E2HT and it too is an excellent head and outstanding performer for its form factor. However, the now defunct E2XTD had double the candela and 650 lumens vs. the E2HT's 500 lumens, so its higher price and larger form factor were an acceptable trade-off. Truly a shame that the E2XTD was discontinued.

That said, I think the E2HT is now the best option for a "pocket thrower." The current E2XT has higher candela, but the same lumen rating as the E2HT, so its edge in real-world performance is marginal. Considering the 43% increase in price and the larger form factor of the E2XT, I think the E2HT is the better value.

I have no experience with any of the E1 heads as their incompatibility with a 4.2v Li-ion cell make them a non-starter for me. To the best of my knowledge, only the BGV1 can accept either a single CR123 or a Li-ion cell.
As far as the Hound Dogs, they're BIG flashlights. They kind of remind me of all the hubbub when Maglite first hit the scene with their big-honkin' metal tube lights that could be used as a baseball bat. The Hound Dog 18650 versions have somewhat addressed the size issue, but other than the high-low bezel switch, I'm still not convinced the increase in bulk and weight is worth the squeeze over what can be assembled using the various E2 heads.
I have a few Hound Dogs myself and feel the pride of ownership, but mostly admire them sitting on the bedroom dresser (and I'm OK with that).

