What is the best budget flashlight?

Welcome to the family, David!!

As others have suggested, I recommend you head to solarforce-sales.com and purchase an L2P, L2T, or an L2M host for under $20. Rock solid hosts and great construction. After that contact e1320 about one of his 5-mode p60 drop-ins in your choice of output and tint. For $40-$50 total you will have a light that will show you what a truly bright and versatile light really is.

No offense but in your first post you mentioned being accustomed to having a bright light. Having owned Surefire up to this point how could that have happened?? :~ :D