Probably around 8 or so.
I feel that way about headlamps and I’m not totally indiscriminate when it comes to buying the cheap stuff (flashlights) since there is so much junk out there.
Now that you've tasted caviar you're not going back to fish-paste.
I know I have bought 5 in the last say 4 weeks or so.
I'm with you, ILF.
I like to read up and try to find the real deals where you can get a great light for a great deal. I agree that it is important to have good quality lights that you can rely on, however I already have those covered. Budget lights let me get new shiny things that I don't really need, without feeling guilty about spending a lot=)
I did this backwards. I already did the quality thing. Now I am over here doing the quantity thing. Really the only thing that I miss is the anodized threads to allow easy lock-out when I pack a light in my bugout bag.
I'm in the middle. I'm looking for the "budget" manufacturer that's trying to break the mold and put out a unique product that satisfies the missing pieces. So far I like what Balder is trying to do, although they're not entirely budget. The fact they offer the SE-1 and at that price point gives me hope they still want to address a variety of price categories. What I don't want is a manufacturer that only gives you an XP-E or XP-G in the light you can afford so they can merely up sell you to a more expensive light that actually has the XM-L when they could have easily included it in the less expensive models. It reminds me of Apple and how they intentionally offer you less so you feel compelled to pay more a few months down the road. The big boys have more to spend on persuading, *cough* I mean, marketing 
Me too. been into getting fls with diff. UIs/features. ZL sc600/ olight m20xs. looking into m3c4/dry/v60c.
I love those more expensive lights but I can’t have any fun with them. More expensive lights can be hard as hell to mod and most times you wouldn’t want to risk tearing it up. People are in it for their own reasons. I like to have lots of lights and batteries everywhere around me and I like messing with them. Tear into that Olight and see what you can do with it.
I will say I am all done experimenting with buying random cheap crap in hope I can mod it to perfection. I have been much more picky with what I order recently and sold most of the ones I did not like or will not use. From this point on it's going to take a decent review and a good vendor before I spend. I made enough mistakes and have enough lights to make it difficult for me to justify something, unless I really want it and will use it regardless of the deal.
I am begining just to reduce the size of the ones I am purchasing,it took time, but I found out the big ones are normally stauing on a shelf waiting for someone, while the mid and small size are normally coming with me.
I haven't any top brand but a Led Lenser P7 if it is a top brand, and till today I don't feel buying any, but I normally check and compara a lot before getting one making sure at least threads are good enough.
So, the only thing I would like to have are better and more efficient drivers, for the rest the quality I can find on more or less cheap ones is enough for me.
Yea I'm getting to that point, but on a different level, I mean heck, I'm pleased as punch with the Trustfire X9 I got the other day over all of the lower end Ultrafire and knockoffs I've bought, so I decided to just stick with the larger torches of medium quality, and dick around with some solarforce p60 stuff.
Here’s the way it works for me. If it’s something I really have a need/use for and I know that I will like a light I’ll pay more for it.
There’s only going to be so many lights in that category however. Otherwise I’ll buy less expensive lights but still ones that I know something about. I never have bought random lights off eBay.
The biggest problem to me with having too many expensive lights is that in several years you will have a substantial amount of money tired up in something that will more than likely have little value.
Especially if you have a “collection” rather than just one or two that you really use a lot. That collection isn’t going to seem interesting anymore as it will be yesterdays news.
I have a $1,000 hi8 video camera that I used a few times and put it away. Now it’s old technology and has very little value. It’s like buying multiple computers today thinking that you are buying “quality”. They will be worthless in several years.
My main rule for DX and others like it is that I don’t buy cheap big lights. The smaller ones seem to be OK but with the bigger ones it just seems like it’s expecting too much. Once the dollar amount gets beyond $30 or so I’m not going to be spending it anywhere other than the U.S. where I’ll get more service and less hassles.
The last 2 paragraphs is sad to hear but very true.
gcbryan I agree with you, the only thing is, if you like modding them, a decent host can do a lot for future moddings of new leds available, but a really bad one was bad from the first day.
I am looking more and more at the $20-34 bracket. Quality instead of quantity.... why should I buy the 20ieth P60 host?
See I don't really care about flashlights. I don't horde them or love them or need them. The only reason I play is for the modding. I need to "do things", occupy my time and my mind. Make myself think more (say stroke). I need to work with my hands and make something. It can be a flashlight, a knife, a model sailboat or any number of things, but it's the constructing and figuring out that is my need. I just about always sell them off after I make them. I did one of the first H.I.D. MagLites and sold it, same with all the other mods. Only with money so tight on a fixed income now, I just do it as cheaply as I can.
Sorry - (takes one step off the soapbox)
Next?
There is the thrill when you get a cheap one that is very good. The original (93mm) stainless steel C3 comes to mind and the Aurora SH-034. the Aurora may just be the best quality light I own at any price. I'm not about to stop buying the really cheap stuff. I gave a pal of mine one of the dollar cheapie AA lights from a couple of years back and he was delighted with it. When he broke it, I gave him a $7 MDXL cheapie (I'm sure old4570 reviewed it but I can't find the review) which he likes even more. Next I'll probably give him a Hugsby P32. He is the guy who looks after the assistant if I'm out of town you see.
Again the Hugsby is an extremely well-made light for not a lot. AFAIR it was about $15 and worth every cent.
Below ten dollars there are a few bargains and a lot of junk. But I've had fun finding out which were which.
Same here... I'm on disability for lifelong mental health problems (depression, bipolar) and I do mods to get the rewards of the work, and I've always loved working with my hands. I do love lights though and I keep what I mod, plus my top hate in life is selling. I couldn't sell you a drink of water in a desert, and I know it. So I won't put myself in that headache.
Bummed right now due to left elbow surgery so modding is out now also. Had a pinched funny bone nerve. Ouch.
Rich