My take with Zebralight, the lack of CS and some issues people experience does not steer me away at all from their products. I've owned many high end made in USA lights that are 3-4 times the price and the Zebralight always finds its way back in my pocket. I rotate it with my HDS Executive. Pair an SC64/65 or SC600 with an 18650 Zebralight headlamp of theirs and you got yourself a perfect combo that will have extremely long runtimes. They could easily sell their lights for a lot more $ and people would still buy them, but I'm glad they are priced accordingly.
Completely agree with you. I generally only carry US made lights. I might pick up an offshore one here or there if it catches my eye, maybe try a new emitter I haven't seen elsewhere, but they don't get carried and often get given away after I check 'em out a bit. Not a patriotic thing really, the US stuff I carry is often just made better (and yeah, you pay extra for that). But I live in the swamp in hurricane Alley. I have to trust my lights like a tool.
Two brands are exceptions though. Reylight makes some really well thought out small lights with absolutely gorgeous beams. I own and carry several. The mini pineapple and LAN have served me well. They make good date night in a pair of slacks lights.
And Zebralight. I've got an SC63w I bought 8 years ago that never once gave me a single problem and is built tough. I've used the hell out of that light for years and it's never let me down.
Recently I picked up a headlight from them that does exactly what I want and I've got the SC700 Hi sitting in my PO Box right now waiting to be retrieved. Maybe not bombproof lights on the scale of some others, but can certainly take a licking, at least the ones I've used. I have no issue carrying them amongst HDS, Malk, torchlab, etc. For me, they earned it. Price point is quite fair for what you get.
Sure, that could change at any time. I didn't like seeing some of the boards from the 65 come out missing components, and I've heard a couple other small things that have bothered me, but I still don't know much that fills a niche like they do. Foursevens would probably be the closest. And I don't have anything against them either.