Well put. I think many either forget or don't realize that Mag's LED lights are engineered to fit the needs of as broad a consumer base as possible. CPF user Robin24k made excellent plots of output versus time for the Mini Pro+ that demonstrate the light was engineered specifically for 1.2 volt alkaline AAs. Output starts at 100% for the first 2 minutes or so and decreases according to a precisely regulated pattern that is unaffected by battery chemistry, save for the number of times the pattern can repeat on the same battery.
What I'm saying is that Mag could have just as easily designed the Pro+ circuit to take advantage of NiMH's ability to sustain high current draw, but they didn't because the light would have a 45 minute runtime on alkaline and would not sell*.
As for the claim that the Chinese make better lights-the companies like Olight, Fenix, Jetbeam/Klarus design almost all of their lights for enthusiasts who want to learn how to safely use lithium rechargeables.
BetweenRides, I definitely agree about 'premium' models with the works. What if they brought out out the 4/5/6D sizes in a premium LED trim?
*unless it was marketed as a rechargeable kit with enhanced performance over the regular version, e.g. Magcharger. That'd be something.
Price (Cheaper initial cost than ANY Chinese flashlight, battery, charger combo)
Decent enough spill OR Throw for most applications. (how often does one REALLY need 1000 Lumen?)
Front mounted switch, not a tailcap switch, for one handed operation
NO BLINKY modes
Add these all up and Maglite wins by a LARGE margin!
Let me ask everyone here a question:
If "Chinese" lights are so good, why do we need so many to fill our needs?
As and American and I think speaking for Americans, we in making our purchasing decisions, use our collective brains in some sort of cloud computing nerwork, and have chosen MagLites as the best choice.
The Cloud Knows! (same goes for political elections, I hope)
Only people with a specific need or a flashaholic would choose anything else.
The 2xAA mini-Maglite was my first flashlight I bought for myself many years ago. I upgraded it with a Nite-ize LED set up and loved the improved brightness until it was stolen by burglars six years ago. I still own four Maglites: A 2D LED Mag in the Wife's car (A great Multi-tool; a club with built in flashlight ), two solitaires and a 4D Mag gifted by a friend (I have recently ordered a LED upgrade for this but can't see it being my EDC). I will always keep my Maglites because they are iconic lights and still made in U.S.A. I know I live in the UK but American Knives and Maglites are something that we appreciate over here.
Maglite will always have a market share because of their worldwide reputation with non-flashaholics even if they are 5 years behind China. I love them anyway.
Before joining BLF, I preordered 2 MiniMagLiteProPluses (yes the + version) from Amazon. Back then, they were sold out everywhere and amazon was the only place I could pre-order. Since then, I've gotten over $100 in cheap chinese cree lights, each and every one of them can bitch slap my incan minimags till kingdom come. And I'm still waiting for my amazon pro+ preorders ($26 each) to come in stock.
Where are they if you can find them? Mag needs to work on their distribution model for the general consumer if they want to sell their latest toys. Yes, the Pro+ are back in stock at other online retailers for $35+, but since i've already gotten so many sipik sk68's and similar lights, I have somewhat lost interest in waiting for them, and as a matter of principle, will not cancel my preorder to pay more to other reseller. Seriously though, where are the Pro+ for the general consumers? And why are they still out of stock 3+ months later? Is it because they'd rather sell their low stock to law enforcement at $800 each while choosing to ignore the general consumer's pre-order?
If you like large under powered lights with plastic lenses and reflectors Maglites are one choice for sure.
I don't find myself with much use for C and D cells these days.
Since they are relatively inexpensive and available everywhere they seem to be decent candidates for modifying. I've never had one but a black 2 C model has a certain appeal for modification.
A mag combo was my first “proper” torch buy, a 2 or 3d mag and a 2aa mag, that got modded with a 3 led bulb, slapped in a head strap and did duty as my under vehicle work light for 11 years, in that time, I maybe changed the aa’s once or twice. It’s currently out of use as the o-rings perished, it got rained on once too often and the batteries fitted till they stuck .
Once I get the one remaining stuck battery out its being match modded for a p60 host of some description (and cell type).
The other silver big torch is under the stairs, I’m sure that when I put my hand on it, it’ll switch on straight away and still give illumination, it’s been there a couple of years but I’m confident. I do fancy nodding this one too, a kind of “yeah its a maglight, Wtf” mod 8)
As said, they are an iconic design, we all grew up watching cops catch the bad guys with a mag strapped to his belt, that makes them cool, I don’t see any other torch get that kind of recognition, ever, no matter how small, bright, lightweight, nothing will ever come close to the brand recognition of a mag. To me, that makes them cool, their the mustang/mini/beetle/Coca-Cola of the torch world, pull one out and anyone, flashaholic or none flashaholic alike will instantly recognise it, and probably, even if they don’t want too, like the form.
I don't personally own one(my employer bought one for use in the store), but the 4D LED mags seem to be fairly bright (not insane at all) But the throw on it seems to be very good and you always have the option of hitting someone in the head with it.
Gotta say: throwers are the nice things to play with and some people really need them, but for serious business at work use, I take the flooder!
Mags are IMO very OK as hosts. Had one Lambda lights 2D XM-L. One word and that's : solid.
What it comes to stock 3-4D mags... Well.
Let me put it this way: in here they still cost around almost 40-50$ a piece. One 4pcs round of batteries can be like 15$ or even more.
These facts combined with not-too-flat regulation with new batts, size, weight, price, power-ratio to all mentioned before - Mag is not too popular anymore.
I know what the prices are at US, much more reasonable choice there even with incan and alkalines.
Well, i grinded down the ano on the inside of the tailcap and squeezed a small spring from a $1.50 ebay light between the cap and cells. It works and now i dont have to use 123s!
Buteven though its much brighter than a stock 2C (and much whiter) it cant touch a magcharger, xml thrower, or even an xpg. It was much more impressive back in the luxeon days.
Still, not bad for less than $20...whether you run primaries or 18650's.
MAGs are for modding - they are excellent hosts as mentioned before. like solar force. i cant speak to there newer stuff but regarding modest mods for beginners its a good platform. not that the Pros dont knock out some sick mods with them too.
my example, a while back ,prior to BLF, i took a p7 dropin from DX and a 4c MAG ( yes i am a C cell fan ). blah blah after some cursing a solid flashlight that runs either 4c or 2 18650s ( with adapter) all for around $40
seen a few people drill out some 2 AA MAGs to get a regular driver in there. then you can use a niteize clicky or something ( havent done an AA yet ). again modest but very functional
the AAAs are tight (inside space) and i havent found a easy driver to use with them but again a solid 2 AAA flashlight.
I think Maglite dropped the ball a little. They probably had enough revenue from their lineup in the past few decades, that they could have invested a little more in developing new products that incorporate the newest technology. I also think the Mags are only decent hosts for modding, there are far better options out there. Maybe it's the most rewarding in terms of achievement, but you have too invest a lot of time/money or both to make it a decent host.
I'm not only talking about driving XM-Ls to their limits, but also efficiency which is much more important with alkaleaks. See what Fenix can do with standard cells... one has to wonder why Maglite hasn't reacted in all this time. Also even elder people who are not flashaholics are using NiMHs nowadays. They are not that uncommon... you can buy them in every big Walmart-like store here. (Walmart didn't make in Germany... too competitive market.. ). The Mini Pro+ just has entered the market, they should have updated their whole lineup 2-3 years ago or even before that. After all this time they introduced a light which is essentially the old host with the old thermal problems... to me it looks like Maglite is stuck in the past. I guess their sales numbers have to heavily drop first before they wake up. That's not healthy for a company, that was considered top of the line several years ago.
But, it is what happens to most home grown companies that are still controlled by the original owner. I have seen that in home grown compamies all across the USA. When “The Boss” kicks the bucket, is when Maglite will fall and disappear.
I don't see any NiMHs in WalMart either. They did away with all of their good NiMHs (Duracell) and there's just a handful of Rayovac or Energizer NiMHs out there. They doubled or tripled their inventory of Alkalines, because that is what people here buy. If it wasn't the best selling battery in the US, they would not have dropped their NiMHs and doubled their Alkalines. We are a throw away country and world. Rechargeables will never be the most popular batteries. Just like no one wants electric cars here either. They will even buy the 1.5V throw away lithiums before they buy rechargeable Li-ion. People like us, on these forums, are just a minority. Maglite is for the Majority, who still buy them.
I watch the stock in my local WalMart (the flashlight stock). Ya I'm crazy, but I mark the packages, so I know when they move out. (I said I was crazy). Maglites go out of that place in good numbers. Averaging 15+ lights per month, in one store. (Two years ago, the numbers were higher). The other lights, like Brinkman, that are in the same price range as the LED Maglites, don't sell well at all. 2-5 per month. Now the really cheap plastic lights, they sell well. 4 lights with batteries for $10.00, ya they sell almost as good as Maglites.
WalMart is also starting to push the LED Maglites. They are not putting Incans back up, but putting more and more LED lights up. (Probably because of Maglite). I am starting to hoard Incan 2D Maglites. I buy one a month and put them away, so I can have lights to mod this winter. Sooner or later Incan Maglites will be really hard to find. If I don't use them, then when they do get scarce, I can sell them on ebay for twice the price.
I’m afraid that when I take all of these into consideration, The Mag come close to the bottom of the list. They are Too big, too heavy, they have a plastic reflector, they are not bright enough, and expensive for what they are.
The simple fact is they have been left behind by the Chinese.
), two solitaires and a 4D Mag gifted by a friend (I have recently ordered a LED upgrade for this but can't see it being my EDC). I will always keep my Maglites because they are iconic lights and still made in U.S.A. I know I live in the UK but American Knives and Maglites are something that we appreciate over here.
Paul 
That's what they're good for!
.
). blah blah after some cursing a solid flashlight that runs either 4c or 2 18650s ( with adapter) all for around $40