oldgrandpajack,
You are correct that SF seem to hold their value better than
others, as evidenced by ebay auctions.
"If your life may depend on a flashlight, how much is your life worth?"
The implication here is that Surefire might be or would be the only light that would work, and therefore save your life.
I think that is a stretch without foundation. Having spent my professional life in the military, and having been an outdoorsman for most of my life, I have never been in a situation where any light I had failed. As far as trusting the light, I would trust the hated (here) Maglite just as much as a Surefire incandescent.
If I had to be sure the light would not break if dropped, then a LED would be called for.
I have many friends who have spent their lives in a similar lifestyle, and I have never known one who suffered any problems because his flashlight did not work. Some have had problems because they did not have one with them, including me.
I would trust a Streamlight or a Pelican just as much as a Surefire.
I will not deny that the Surefire is top of the heap as far as quality, but better quality does not necessarily translate into it being the only light that one could trust if his life depended upon its light.
One could make the same argument that because your life might depend upon getting to the hospital, ones life is worth the cost of a Rolls Royce because it is of higher quality than a Ford, and accordingly one should own such a car assuming he had the money to buy one.
Anyway, each of us "Pays his money and makes his choice" and flashlights are fun to learn about and play with.
I do think an advantage of Surefire is that the E2 is about the smallest very bright light made, as far as I know. In that case the best light is the one you have when you need it. Most of us are not inclined to carry very large lights, and the smaller the better. I might have a E2e in my pocket, and I would not have a Mag.
Jerry
