When you cost out runtime, lithiums are actually cheaper to operate than most alkalines, and they do not have the issues of leaking, etc. that plague alkalines. I would not put alkalines in anything that I value very highly. It is either Eneloops, for regular use where recharge is an option, or lithiums for items that are stored away or used intermittently. If you want to save money, rechargeables are the only way to go.