I agreed that it’s a different class of light but the manufacture need to think like consumers else they wont do well.
Just a feed back as a buyer’s view and i don’t meant to whinge.
Consumers that buy a flashlight at similar cost will compare other lights for more features. Not everyone have the money to buy everything and the vast majority of people can only pick one flashlight at similar cost and compare for more features such as lumens, design look, size and runtime.
Don’t get me wrong, I like the ReyLight Brass light but if i got $40 to spend then i will buy definitely buy Astrolux S41S as there are so many good things wins over this light also lithium batteries are so common now. This light need to come up a special feature that no other manufactures have developed or can replicate then i will consider buying otherwise it’s no different to a car that have Ferrari body with Hyundai engine and it perform like a cheap Hyundai car.
Really common 170 lumens on AA is pathetic as many cheap lights can do it better.
As a principle, consumers want a nice design, more features , good performance at competitive cost and if you can’t deliver those then someone else will make those lights and win the customers.