That’s the problem, with the hardware. Very few have the skills, interest, determination, fabrication and test equipment, to bother with these, frankly not very interesting if you have a day job, things. Never mind give the designs away for free.
So it is just going to continue to be dreary derivative AMC+FET designs I think. With increasingly esoteric firmware options that few will ever use.
With maybe some flashy subsidiary lights.
I’d like to be wrong about this, but perhaps it is time to focus BLF techies energy on a new decent useful driver.
Comfychair had his day, but that was a long time ago, and it seems we are still living with it.
Buck or boost, or buck-boost, efficient, straightforward modes, minimal component count, open for firmware development with e.g. pogo-pin pads, perhaps even accessible for DIY assembly with crude tools.
Except I think that ship has sailed and, once you take a look at the good commercial suppliers, you might decide that they usually have an edge over BLF torches.
Summary:
BLF still has a place if it can rejuvenate hardware development, and open up and interest firmware development again to more than just one contributor.
Contribution from LED assessors (e.g. Maukka, Djozz) is key. Nevermind the hardware, the LED performance is absolutely the most important thing, as it progresses.
Assessment of cells is important, however it really is not so important if the torch has a good circuit design with a driver that doesn’t just rely on shorting the cells across the LED for max output. E.g. a properly considered linear or buck driver could deliver far better performance, overall,and maybe HKG’s curves would show better use.