Wow, that's a good question that has many answers, especially when you say price is a consoderation as well. I'm afraid I can't narrow it down to just one, but like it or not, in my opinion Maglite gives great quality for a reasonable price, with reasonable output for a light of it's price/availability/durability. As much as people groan about Maglite, it is a great OVERALL production flashlight.
Maybe the question could be answered with this statement: Performance, reliability, and price....pick any two, and you could say many lights would fit the bill.