They don't specify it for use with a 104400 [sic] and they are not catering to that with different materials. If it helps with that it's not because it was intended. With the mass involved I would still say it's only about look and feel.
I'm certain that you're misinterpreting what is really going on afa 10440 and the Maratacs. The clue is that it is their "legal department" that informs you at the bottom of the page what isn't recommended. CountyComm is small, can't afford any suits, my conjecture, but its likely a tight outfit meant to help clever people retire. Anyway, to absolve them from any possible suits, which are a very possible and one might say an inevitable outcome should they advertise "best li-ion pocket rocket ever!" and then someone gets a bad battery and blows their hands off... and my point is that you are trying to mislead yourself into believing something that isn't true: the light was engineered for just 1.5v, and the engineer never conceived anyone might stick a 4.2v in there, even though people have been doing it for years and documneting it on YouTube, and nearly identical lights from larger suit-proof manufacturers do push 10440. Sometimes you just have to read between the lines: they care about your hands and their attorney doesn't want to bankrupt them, but once you make your purchase, its no longer their responsibility, so don't try to get a free replacement under warranty after blowing yours up. I think that's a bit close to the truth than what you've proposed, but it is all induction, so I have no real proof, in the end, JMHO, and YMMV. [highlight]note: REDACTED!![/highlight]
Regarding everything being about the look and feel... I can only say materials matter beyond look and feel. The thermal properties have been mentioned, but its not just heat, copper is a superior conductor —not that that matters, point is, materials are very different even though there is copper in brass. I'm not sure about anyone here, but I often use my mouth as a third hand, and the light goes in there. Copper has superior oligodynamic effects to brass, stainless, titanium, and aluminum.
Brass is also much harder than copper. There is also something related to memory, nostalgia, commemoration with brass in the collective consciousness.
I prefer copper, but I understand brass. What I don't understand is how CountyComm continuously ignores their market and runs out of inventory. That makes no sense to me.*
*there's no good reason I can think of they they don't keep stock in every light they ever made, including all versions of rev 1, rev 2, all the other lights, etc. The market is taking them somwhere they didn't expect, and they're ignoring the profit that is there by narrowing inventory, even if the lights become more valuable post-sale, that doesn't help their coffers. They should really split their lights off from the rest of their catalog, IMHO, if they want to maximize their profit potential. But, like I guessed earlier, this is not a start-up, but security for the future. Still... darnit, I want all the lights they no longer sell (esp. the superior non-pwm Rev. 2)!
