The Arc4 does use a 1W emitter. I'm not sure what thread you're referring to (like you said, there's gobs and even I lose track /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) but the Arc4 uses a 1W emitter with bin of the LED being secondary since Arc requires a minimum level of output for the Arc4+ to make the grade. I really think the Arc is too conservatively rated and Lumileds are overly optimistic. I have seen many Arc4+ (firsts and seconds) and I'd be damned if I can tell the difference in output between any of them without a light meter. So though you may have a diamond in the rough, so do many others /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif which is a good thing.
On another note, the type of LED used in the Arc4+ is somewhat irrelevant due to Arc's light output requirement. If an N flux 1W can put out the light and not draw gobs of current, it will sell as a first. Hypothetically, if they happen to have some T flux Luxeon III's that can't put out the light, it sells as a second. Basically, Arc is playing the Luxeon lottery for us so we win. That's why I think all the calls for Arc to use Lux III's is pointless. Who cares if it's a 1W or a Lux III UWOJ? Their testing is the great equalizer /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif I think they should use whatever good LED they can get a hold of at a price point that's beneficial for them, be they 1W or 3W lux. At the end of the day, we get a light in a little package that puts out lots of lumens.
CM