A single-mode holstered ’502 has been my EDC since I threw it together a few years ago.
Store-bought that have modes, I keep them as-is for the most part. I also EDC an SP10 in my pocket, for when I might need different modes. Just looking at all the ick growing in the ice-machine at work, my ’502 does the job great, without modes. When the ick finishes evolving and develops language skills, it’ll agree with me, too.
Sure, ramping in my Q8 is fantastic. When I’d need a Q8, though, I just 2click to turbo anyway, else I’d just reach for a “lesser” light. Hell, I’d he happy with my C8F being 1-mode, as that’s what I grab when my EDC might not be enough, or my Q8 would just be too unwieldy.
F13? Its come-with emitter is meh, rather cold, and the UI stinks to High Hell, so it’s a host, period. What goes in it? 1-mode 22mm driver, simple on/off. Throws quite nicely, has a great beam, is as predictable as the sun.
So modes have their place… as secondary lights. My primaries I choose by my needs at the time. And my ’502 is about 500 lemons, bright enough for must uses and allowing assloads of runtime, too. If I need more, I’d take something beefier. But that serves its purpose probably 95% of the time. Only rarely do I “have to” grab my SP10 out of my pocket, or before that my Jet-II out of my bag, for lower modes.
I do like dual-switch setups like the F1 and/or P30, though. Set’n’forget the mode, use the tailswitch to turn it on’n’off. Change the mode only if you need to, but then immediately put it back to its predictable default.
So… it’s as simple as using the right tool for the job, and NO tool is one-size-fits-all.