I'm with you on the AA strategy Eugene - but for most folks, isn't a hand crank NiCad that at least gives them power while they crank marginally better than a dead AA (or C or D) powered flashlight in the emergency kit? I can't tell you how many Red Cross kits I've looked at where the first time I pull the flashlight out its dead for lack of attention. Hand crank not as a panacea, but as an okay solution for kits that get stored and not maintained.