"What Muyshondts lack in practicality they appreciate more as a form of art."
"But I can't see a reason to get the Muyshondt, its better as a work of art than a flashlight."
What an odd sentiment.
While I appreciate my work being considered art, and I do work to make sure my designs are crafted to my own high standards, suggesting that my lights, and the Aeon in particular – one of the most popular lights I have ever made and that has spawned many lesser imitations, is not practical, is a bit absurd.
The Aeon is small, bright, lightweight, and runs for a very long time, and is comfortably better quality than anything else presently on the market from any other maker. This isn't just my (biased) opinion – there are reviews here on the forum and elsewhere indicating as such for the Mk. I-III models. There is no other light that offers superior fit and finish, a pushbutton tailswitch and clip in such a small package, nor a balanced performance level that won't leave you in the dark, won't overheat, and won't leave you wishing for more light in situations in which you'd normally use a pocket light.
I'm not entirely sure where the notion comes from that the Aeon – a light that produces 160 lumens on high mode, fits in your pocket, is 1.2 ounces in weight, is built with miniaturized and efficient electronics of my design, and in its base model is made from hardcoat anodized 7075-T6 aluminum (aluminum with the strength of steel but none of the weight), or 6AL4V titanium (long since sold out), is anything but the very definition of practical, but everyone is certainly entitled to their own opinion.
I would invite all of you to read a few entries on the blog on my website, specifically:
https://shop.muyshondt.net/blogs/muyshondt-blog/on-design
https://shop.muyshondt.net/blogs/muyshondt-blog/117295299-on-quality
https://shop.muyshondt.net/blogs/mu...i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-torch
To the OP: I've been making lights since 2006. Many of those lights are still in service and I expect will be for quite some time. The warranty lasts for a year because I cannot keep an inventory of parts indefinitely on limited production items. In the unlikely event you ever had a post-warranty manufacturing defect (not self-inflicted damage, abuse, or modifications, etc.), I'd figure out some way to help you out, even if the torch was out of production.
As for rechargeable cells, the light is designed around lithium primaries and to drain them completely dry, which is incompatible with a battery chemistry that is both 1) overvoltaged vs. a regular CR2 cell, 2) becomes damaged when discharged below about 2.75V. LiFePO4 cells that have a charging voltage of ~3V are fine, though part 2 still remains.
To your decision: The two choices you have for yourself are very different lights and I'm not sure fill the same intended role. They don't for me, at least, and I've generally avoided the CR123 form factor for design because I have tended to find the size awkward for EDC purposes despite the ubiquity of the cell. You need to decide whether you're most comfortable with a larger, heavier light that's programmable, vs. a smaller one that's pre-set. The lumens differences on paper are unlikely to be of much consequence in actual use, and I expect that the difference in battery type won't make much ultimate difference for you in actual use either.
Of course, the best way to decide is in person, as my opinion (or anyone else's), doesn't matter – only your's does. If you're interested, feel free to check with scout24 here to see if you can add yourself to the last slot on the passaround list, and then try the Aeon for yourself and see if it works for you:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...Muyshondt-Aeon-Mk-III-and-Maus-MkI-passaround!
Good luck with your choice, and I hope you enjoy and get good use out of whichever light you ultimately choose.
Regards,
Enrique