Yep, totally agreed. I store the lithium AAs in the house, take Alkalines along as backups, and almost always use NiMHs exclusively, which ends up saving some $.

I'll mention that the rechargeable Energizer 2500mAh AAs you find at Sam's or CostCo are junk. They don't come close to their advertised specs, even after reconditioning them for a week in a LaCrosse BC900. (I don't remember what their actual, terrible specs turned out to be, but if I recondition them again, I'll be sure to write it down. )