Not sure if this has been mentioned. 20mmm PCB 6V 90CRI versions are now available in 3000k & 4000k but with a considerable drop in flux. Still a nice CRI to consider with so many lumens on tap.
http://www.cutter.com.au/products.php?cat=Cree+MTG+on+20mm+MCPCB
http://www.cree.com/led-components-and-modules/products/xlamp/arrays-directional/~/media/Files/Cree/LED%20Components%20and%20Modules/XLamp/Data%20and%20Binning/XLampMTG2.pdf
I hardly ever use my throwers to their fullest potential, or even get much of a chance to. Although a cool “wow” light to own and play with, mega-throwers are mostly useless in nearly all of my personal situations. In fact, they can be downright irritating to everyone around me at close to intermediate ranges. The “powerful gentle long throwing blanket of light” concept seems like the next sensible frontier in this hobby.
Even with my VSS3A, I run it in maximum flood mode most of the time and modded it to give even more flood than stock specs allowed. Even though the 1 degree reflector setting can easily illuminate high altitude air traffic, its all but useless without high powered optics to see out to that range. Taking a sensible look in how most people use their flashlights, a power flooder with good range seems to make the most sense, and maybe it always has. We just never had a single efficient emitter that could do both.
Thanks to everyone for all the great tips. Ive certainly learned a lot here… mostly in how to rethink how I use my flashlights and what makes them the most useful.
Sorry to get off topic…