I have MDC 2AA. I posted my comments here before, and I will repeat them briefly here:
Negatives:
1. three notches on the head will project into the beam. This you will never see from any other popular cheap Chinese made AA lights. You may tolerate it or hate it. I hate it in the beginning, but now I can tolerate it since the other aspects of Malkoff lights are so good.
2. body without effective knurling or notches, so quite slippy. I still dislike it but since the head is quite big compared with body and the clip will also help carry so this negative point is OK to go with.
3. AA I remember is without opposite protection. But 2AA is with.
4. AA I think cannot tail stand perfectly. But 2AA can.
Positive:
1. Yes, it's a poorman's Haiku. I have a Haiku, so I totally understand it. The reflector comes from McGizmo, but a less quality version compared with Haiku. The tail button also comes from McGizmo, I can see no differences.
2. So very good beam except those three ugly notches
3. very good tail button operation
4. even better modes without memory, better than Haiku
5. Solid body, tank like, even it is a little slippy
6. you can switch the body/head with Haiku. But I don't see a preference to do it since the style is so different and the combination is sucking ugly.
Due to those two extra negative points of AA compared with 2AA, I recommend 2AA instead, especially the tail stand function if you need it.
Generally speaking, Malkoff MDC AA/2AA are very good lights, very different to Chinese designs. They are definitely worthy of your try, especially if you are in USA and do not need to pay for the additional taxes and shipping costs.
I really want to try with more Malkoff lights, but the taxes and shipping cost to Europe is so high barring me away. Pity I cannot find some dealers in EU.