Even with the higher cost its still more cost effective when you consider how many stupid coin cell batteries you will throw away and how many coin cell lights will need to be replaced over the life time of a decent AAA light. I have wasted too much money on coin cell lights over the years and finally gave in and bought an Arc. I held out for a long time not being willing to spend the $ but once you add in the cost of replacing the batteries and cost to send the coin lights back under warranty and reaplcing them when they come open and half the parts get lost then you come out ahead.
Its just like any other tool, buy a good one once or keep re-buying cheap ones over and over.