T_I_N is right, from a functional perspective, Ti does not provide much that the current refined Arc-AAA lacks. In this particular application, the advantages of Ti are mostly cosmetic or rarety for the sake of rarety. As you know, that's doesn't float with me.
On the CPF, you have your choice of many manufacturers. If you are looking for appearances, you have lots of choices.
Don't get me wrong, I like Ti where it provides an advantage. Our wedding rings were made out of the same bar of 64V. Compared to what rings are normally made of, our rings don't scratch as much and they are noticably lighter.
For the new LS, I have opted to use a small amount of 64V for the bezel. And this is because the Ti brings something significantly functional to that part. In most flashlights, the bezel is the weakest part and that is where most drops hit the ground. Lights with secondary optics tend to have thin walls at their bezel. In normal use, I have see Al bezels dented enough to make it difficult to service the optics. However, it is rare to see an Arc-AAA be dented enough to reduce its functionality.
Furthermore, with the Arc-AAA, it doesn't make it lighter, it makes it heavier. It doesn't make it more scratch resistant, it makes it less scratch resistant (Type III is harder than Ti), Ti is also less conductive and more expensive.
When I own a nice looking tool, I feel guilty if it looks nice because it sacrificed what it means to be a tool. However, if it looks nice because it is a good tool, then that is a bonus.
Look at the F-16. It wasn't made to look pretty. Its appearance is a product of its functional design. That's more beautiful than something that was designed to please the eyes first.
With effort, we can change our perception of what is beautiful to mean something that is less functional just like we can crave things that are sweet. I worry about that. Then we will be dominated by devices that are meant to please our fickle superficiality. Devices that don't last, that don't save us time and we can never seem to have enough.
I get excited when an improvement to a design makes it twice as efficient or twice as bright or longer battery life, smaller, etc.
peter