Before you tear it a new one, just remember that the Reactor was the first inexpensive Lux light available commercially at a time that others were selling for $100+.
I remember being thankful that I could own a Luxeon flashlight at that time. I bought one for myself and one for my GF's son. They were decent performers for that time with lithiums. CMG realized that they needed some help, so they went to the Reactor 3 which was a great improvement, but then they had the Luxeon color problem.
By todays standards, both are crappy lights, but be thankful that CMG choose to market them in the early stages helping to pave the market for the evolution and choices that we have today. Back then, you could buy a $130-160 ARC or a $30-40 Reactor.
That copper or brass contact piece really was pretty bad and no way to service it.