I use it as I carry a surefire tac light anyway. You right about the price but try and find a policeman or a shop that has one and see what light is produced from such a small package. It is nothing less than one more option to consider for each individuals situation IMO.
I have one of the little ITT 160 Night Vision Monoculars that I use if my pups start growling. Use it to search the property for the source of their concern. I figure it is better than using a light to let someone know where "you" are . Travis brought that key education to light :o) for me. Your quote from the wisdom text is worthy. The surefire light is just one option.
Stay Safe !!
Once you go with a SureFire lite in search mode, you are stuck with it for the duration since your own night vision is shot. A goblin seeing that beam sweeping the living room or barn and yard will get in a shadow and wait in ambush for "flashlight man" to pass by before shooting him in his backlit back.
Keep the SureFire light, if you MUST use it, for a one second ID and blinding burst RIGHT before you shoot him, AFTER you have found him in stealth mode.
I cannot think of a better way to get dead than to go looking in the dark for armed criminals by sweeping far out ahead of me with a bright light, practically yelling out "HERE I COME! GET READY FOR ME!!!!"
IMHO, tactical gun lights are ONLY for SWAT Teams who are rushing in on shocked and dazed perps who have just been awakened by flash bang grenades. THEN they make perfect sense. If they are used by the single property owner, he must be VERY disciplned, and NOT give in to the temptation to announce his coming with a light search. He must save it for the last second to ID and blind before shooting.
All just my humble opinion mind you, based on no personal experience shooting bad guys. Your mileage may vary.