I like Surefire, they are nice lights. Just not my preference. I will buy an Elzetta for my next light, and probably an Olight for my carry pistol.
Great，I have three olight flashlights ：S2，S1A steel and S15 titanium ，all of them use side buttons，very useful 。 I have been carrying the S1A for six months with me，i think S1a has a high quality body ，I mean ，the anodizing is better than fenix。For the flashlight I used ，I think Olight and thrunite have the best Hard anodized in China。But ，surefire’s anodizing is muuuuuch better ！My surefire E1b MV has been in use for two months, and it has not faded. Looks like new 。。。
in USA all the TV remotes still use AA or AAA. CR123 is an odd battery to many people and if a manufacturer used it, most consumers would think what is that? The CR123 is not popular enough to be carried in stock at every store and if you can find some they are $3+ each at a good deal and I have seen singles for $10+ each because they are not common here. I can buy an RCR123A or 16340 for $4 (online order) and charge them over and over. I see no reason to buy the throw away and spend the time looking for them in stores and pay the price they get for them.
My Olight came with a CR123 and when it is dead I will only use 16340 and recharge them. I also have other lights that use these so I have good supply.
While the CR123 may have a purpose for its 10 year shelf life, I would use one for that product that I may only need in an emergency. Not for items I will use many, many times in that 10 years.
Another example a local grocery may charge $5 for a 2 pack of CR2032 button cells for a computer board. Prices are high because they do not sell everyday. Where the AAA and AA will sell everyday and are cheap.
Well, like others have said, cr123a cells are not common in the USA. Yes you can find them in some stores, but you will pay quite a lot for them, especially if you are in the more rural areas.
That said, if you can buy in bulk, the price per cell becomes quite reasonable; typically between 1-2 dollars. Sometimes even under a dollar each.
We can get chinese-made CR123 for like $1.50 each in bulk. Better CR123 are about $2 each in bulk here, and as high as $10 for one, depending on brand! They're not super common, but can be found in some grocery/general stores on "specialty battery" endcaps here sometimes with the likes of button and coin cells (CR2032, 377/376, etc.), though I'd check the dates and the prices aren't the best.