We are participating in a wonderful period in economic history when China is producing things that are really useful in the modern world but with much of the same variety and charm as their old products made of rice paper, bamboo and ivory. Most of the stuff works, and I gather that the more expensive Chinese lights are reliable, but don’t expect perfection, mass production and charm at the same time.
When I received my first 3-mode Zoom AA/1450 EXPIRED ! "Black" $1.99 Max 3ea, I was disappointed that it really is a modern industrial product, so the fun is now ending. Beyond start up problems, it seems to be very consistent and very well designed for general use and large cheap production. So I expect it to replace both the SK68 and the ultra-cheap 3XAAA lights with several 5 mm. leds. I don’t really know, but my impression is that they are all made in one large factory, so the rich diversity of detail, as in the SK68 clones, may soon be no more.