I carry and use a flashlight regularly but I don't see one cracking into my top ten weapon list anytime soon.

Like others have said; a brief moment of disorientation might buy you an opportunity. I fear that those who buy into all the hype believe that an attacker is going to shriek in pain and grab their face as though they've been doused in acid.
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"There is not a man of us who does not at times need a helping hand to be stretched out to him, and then shame upon him who will not stretch out the helping hand to his brother." -Theodore Roosevelt