@oldbobk - you said it better than I could have.
Maglite does not care about modding and modders because we are about 0.005% of their sales. Their sales was built around Police, Fire & Security! A strong light that will not break. A plastic reflector and lens to help from breaking in a fall or a fight. A sturdy switch design for the same reason and an overall strong body/head to last through the issues that many police, firemen and security people see. Also it's doubles as a billy club if need be. That is the main theme of Maglites and that is where their sales are going. They are not about to make modifications to a light that sells more than any other single light, for a bunch of modders who don't even know a good general purpose, long lasting, useful light if it bit them on the butt.
But, the basic design still allows for modding and more mods have been done to Maglites than any other flashlight around. By modding, I don't mean "drop-ins" that aren't modding at all. They are just changing parts, like changing spark plugs.
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I, myself, don't really care for Maglites, other than their potential to be modded. I wouldn't use a stock Mag for personal use, but then again, I wouldn't pick one of the budget lights either. I'm not going to buy a $65 light or anything expensive. It might be great, but I won't like something and I will want to do something to it, so why buy an expensive light that I'm going to end up modding anyhow.
I would like to say that my first post was incorrect and I did generalize way too much. Not all Chinese products are bad or of low quality. I personally have just not found a good one yet, but they must be there.
It all boils down to what you want and your preferences. It's interesting to see the different replies and the way people percieve things. The bad part of the internet is that we are (for the most part) strangers and anonymity can be a good or a bad thing.
I will also say that the first paragraph of this post was intended to rile the masses. It was not intended to offend anyone personally, nor was it directed at any one member.
Take everything with a grain of salt and you will not get as upset... but you will die of high blood pressure from all that salt!