What do you guys think about this one? What's the best (or your personal favorite) AA powered SS light that carries a budget friendly price tag?
Ultrafire C3 SS if we are talking AA/14500 lights.
Wow...only $12.50?
I should have made the exodus over to BLF way sooner! 
N-Light B2S Stainless Steel CREE XP-G - good quality!
For SS C3, 14500 burnt mine and made it a 14500 only light. I replaced the driver with a single mode one and it works ok in both chemistries.
The 93 mm version C3 SS is better built (mine was from Lightake), the 98 mm (DX) is not as nice. N-Light B2S is pretty much sold out everywhere. But if you are into neutral tints the N-Light B1 might be worth a consideration, but it's twice the price tag of the C3 though. You get neutral tint, high PWM ,metal tailcap, no-strobes and hopefully a suiting diffuser in return.
Hearing that i guess you are a (former)CPF member? :)
Another few to consider:
http://www.intl-outdoor.com/nlight-b1-ss-300-lmaa14500-flashlight-p-237.html
http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-74/**NEW**-Olight-TC15-/Detail
Thanks for all of the great suggestions, guys! I'm gonna post some pics of the front-runners so that others can benefit:
Ultrafire C3:
N-light B1:
Olight TC15:
So far I think that the Ultrafire C3 (93mm version on Lightake) is in the lead, with the N-light C3 a close second. The Olight looks beautiful but the high-->strobe-->low UI would drive me nuts, and it seems like that light would also run best on 14500 ((I only use NiMH).
Haha, well...yes and no. I'm still active there (i.e. not banned yet), but I know I came very close to getting banned at least twice.
I don't know if any of you guys check out the Marketplace over there, but I'm the guy using the handle "UpstandingCitizen." I've had my fair share of interesting interaction with the mods over there, which ended up being a blessing in disguise because it paved the way for me to find BLF. 
I would ask LT or BOB (bestofferbuy) upfront if they really still ship the 93 mm version. Sometimes budget vendors change their products without further notice.
One heads up: PWM is noticeable on all multi-mode C3s that I handled (low,medium).... if you are sensitive to that kind of stuff.
Thanks for that tip, I will definitely inquire before purchasing.
How would you compare this light (UF C3) to your Maratac AAA SS in terms of overall quality? This would be a good point of reference for me as I have owned one of these before.
98mm has the tendency to crossthread...but it is not that big of a deal as it would be on aluminium threads...my 93mm was a lot better in that respect but still not ideal. The threads of most budget lights come bone dry resulting in a nice "Sqeeek"... so some lube might also be a good idea. The threads of the Maratac are still better machined. I am not the biggest fan of GITD parts and would swap them out against black parts (18 mm I think?)...especially the front O-ring as is seems to give the beam colour a slightly green tint on the very outer rim. Our own Mr. Admin tested the Manafont 3-mode version (current regulated or high PWM?), which would be also a very nice candidate. Since you live in the US of A you should also get some nice Fenix clips. (share a lot with other BLFians if you can't reach the minimum $10 mark, shipping is only $1) My general beef with SS lights is the weight in EDC role, but they do make some nice heavy duty lights.
Additional candidates with more "bling":
The CQG S2 would be my favorite choice due to size, weight, tint and price, if it wouldn't have those darn switch issues. But until someone plays the guinea pig on their new "fixed run", I will not order it.
I'd recommend the CQG S2 from cnqualitygoods.com. I own the CQG S1 which is a AAA version of the same light (just smaller). They are actually hand made one at a time by a very talented gentleman in China. The machining is extremely impressive and it's nearly impossible to see the seam where the tail cap and body meet unless you already know exactly where it is. Nowhere else will you find a handmade light of this caliber for the insanely low price of $17.50
Yep... the S1 is very nice, do you own the S2 and have no switch problems JohnnyMac?
Wish I could say yes, but I can’t. I’ve been waiting patiently for the promised group buy on the engraved BLF Edition of the S2 that Ric said he would do but so far it hasn’t materialized. I want the BLF Edition S2 to match my BLF Edition S1. If Ric said the switch issue has been corrected then I would accept his word on it. If for some reason there was a problem with it still I know he would make good on it so I wouldn’t worry too much either way. I admit I’m getting tired of waiting for the S2 BLF version and am considering ordering but I know as soon as I do he will offer the BLF version. LOL!
Manafont has an 'updated' version of the C3, kinda cool
Don't overlook the Aurora SH-035, I think the quality is better than the C3, it's quite an amazing light for $13
Hi Vectrex, I got 2 S2's recently (like a month ago). Here's what I had to say about it:
So yours are the supposed "fixed clickies" and you still had to do the WD40 orgy? Hmm, not sure if I will take the risk.