Generally speaking I prefer WMLs that take lithium primary batteries. I have plenty of 18650s, and don't mind maintaining them, but a WML on a defensive arm is an emergency device for me. I've never been in the military or law enforcement, so I'm not maintaining my weapons and their accessories on a daily or weekly basis.

Another reason, for me, is to stay with lighter-weight devices. This isn't a shot at Cloud Defensive (everything I know about them is good) or the choices you're making, Phaedrus, just that I'm choosing to limit the weight of WMLs on long arms. My shooting buddies call my primary rifle's Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6X scope "the Hubble" so I need to save weight someplace.