OK, so I just bought a pretty darn smart charger as far as the specs go. Will see how it works in practice but I've already determined most of my older NiMH batteries are basically shot. Maybe I'll be able to revive a few with the refresh function but I got another pack of Sanyo 2700mAh plus I see some Eneloops on the way.

BTW, what has been said above re: Lithium being ideal for flashlights. It may well be true but I'm more than willing to sacrifice what marginal improvement Lithium can offer for the versatility of AA batteries. There are some very high-performance LED lights that run on AA's. Having all your portable gear run on standard AA's, flashlight included, is a huge benefit IMO. Especially for a relatively sporadic, preparedness-minded user.