I must be missing something here too.... I don't get the torch fetish thing at all.
We all have our fetishes. Mine just happens to be Torches and Knives
A good torch is like a good camera and you need certain torches for certain tasks. I'd look a bit daft with a Mini Maglight on my rifle and rather than blind someone momentarily it would just about illuminate their face so I can see the smile on it as they pump lead into me. On the flip side I would struggle to read a map covertly using an 800 lumen torch. Hence I have a red Innova Microlight to map read with.
Horses for Courses really.