Depends on the light and its intended use IMO.
e.g.
A thrower does not need a moonlight mode
Unless strobe is instantly accessible in a tactical sense, they are pointless to have. So no need for them at all.
Purpose built tactical torches should have strobe, but only if it is instantly accessible.
For an EDC light I think it needs to two things from off:
-be able to switch on to moonlight
-be able to switch on to High/Turbo
From either setting I want the ability to increase or decrease brightness, i.e.
turn on in moonlight, pump up to low, then drop down to moonlight without turning it off or blinding myself.
or
turn on in Turbo, but able to drop it down to High, then back again to Turbo without turning it off or cycling through loads of modes.
If the above needs to be done via multiple clicks. Then as a rule, when I want moon or low light levels I’m not in a hurry — nobody is. But when you want High/Turbo you kind of want it there and now.
But of course you don’t want to blind yourself to get to moonlight.
e.g.
Click to turn on to moonlight
——> long click to Low
-> short click back to moonlight
And
Click to turn on to moonlight
-> short click to Turbo (so essentially a double click to turn on)
——-> Long click to High
->short click back to Turbo
Number of modes will depend on the output of the light. The higher the output, the bigger the spread you will need. However I see no reason why you’d ever need more than 5 brightness modes; (Moonlight, Low, Medium, High, Turbo). But some lights might only need L-M-H or Moon-Med-High.
Turbo should step down, either by temp sensor or timer.
High should be flat regulation where possible.
Dual switch or the head loose/tight options give greater ability to enable you enter the output range at either end of the spectrum with ease (moon or turbo). Yet I’m still to find a light that get remotely close to this.
I do not want different mode groups, as the UI becomes too complex (Manker U11 I’m looking at you!) and you need a printout of the UI at hand in order to use the thing.
Programmable …. meh. Usually that just means they haven’t bothered offering what is really needed.
Battery check would be nicer by a separate LED warning light that only works when the light is on (so as not the drain power and allow mechanical lock out and mechanical switches). Red, amber, green is all it needs really to let you know battery health.
As for other blinky modes. I think the use case for them is so small, that 97% of lights should not have them at all. Worst is the awful blinking and flashing modes people use on bikes. What stupid ideas they are to try and dazzle and blind cars coming to towards you. Completely idiotic.
If blinky modes are really required, a small toggle switch on the driver could be used to enable/disable them. That way people who want them can use them, while everyone else (the vast majority) can live more happily without them.