I immediately had two questions:
1 - How much does it cost to use — as in battery and bulb life... As I recall, those 3v batts run around $6.00 each.
2 - Does putting that hot a bulb into a plastic flashlight create a fire hazard?

I just got a 3 watt, ultra-bright LED flashlight on sale at Sears for $19.95. It uses 2 ordinary 1.5v AA alkalines (which seem to last around 10-12hrs). The LED is predicted to last over 10,000 hours (read “forever”). The tool-box quality solid metal case is matte light grey. I’ve dropped it several times without any damage.
It is brighter than any of the krypton-bulbed D batt x2 flashlights I own. It is, in fact, too bright to use in an ordinary campground wi...

I immediately had two questions:
1 - How much does it cost to use — as in battery and bulb life... As I recall, those 3v batts run around $6.00 each.
2 - Does putting that hot a bulb into a plastic flashlight create a fire hazard?

I just got a 3 watt, ultra-bright LED flashlight on sale at Sears for $19.95. It uses 2 ordinary 1.5v AA alkalines (which seem to last around 10-12hrs). The LED is predicted to last over 10,000 hours (read “forever”). The tool-box quality solid metal case is matte light grey. I’ve dropped it several times without any damage.
It is brighter than any of the krypton-bulbed D batt x2 flashlights I own. It is, in fact, too bright to use in an ordinary campground without annoying the neighbors <grin>. OTOH, it can get noticeably warm if you run it continuously for ½ hour or more.
I did miss out on the I’m-Cleverer-Than-You DIY experience (even though I seem to be doing a little I-Can-Shop-Better-Than-You bragging here), but I don’t mind getting a better, safer, and less expensive to operate light for only $20. And I suppose it could also be used as a hand warmer on those cold winter nights.