Only slightly related but when I was out for a quick dusk/dark session, I was fishing the rocks to one side of a beach, below a well known b**t fishing mark. In good conditions and having had two quick fish, I was quite chuffed that things were going so well. Just after my second fish though I was drawn to the bright light shining over the water on my left hand side, slightly around the corner. "There can't be a boat this close to shore?!....". It was THAT bright, and getting closer... Two minutes later and after much confusion, the owner of the Worlds brightest headtorch reached the rocks above my position and proceeded to tackle up whilst surveying every bit of water within 200 yards for a likely 'watery(?)' looking spot. I admit, I have no idea what he thought he was actually looking for, but either way, that was the end of the fishing - despite trying - they definitely weren't at close range like they were. The poor chap (queue fake sympathy) had obviously spent a LOT of money on something so powerul but had also scared every fish in the bay most of the way across the Atlantic.
It wasn't until that night that I first laughed about the unsuitableness(?) of some of the headtorches anglers are flogged for silly money. I used to really want one back in the day! It might be the novelty factor of being able to survey the other side of any beach while you're stood in the dark doing nothing, but its hugely unlikely to help you in catching any fish? Unless you want to cast miles?! What is the need for a light that shines past your rod tip? Even that far? Even when walking home in pitch black I've never needed intense brightness past about 10 foot. Like Keith says, it makes sense to carry a light (or two) of two colours (white for walking home, red for close range), or even just a glow stick for the simple tasks as Mark points out, but 500m visibility is a preferrence because?........ Is me moaning about this a bit like the other side moaning about red rods? Am I missing something?
Sorry for the semi-rant. It just reminded me of the 'boat' incident.
For me, Having lost my small Petzl, I've been using a small torch and just turning around and keeping low every time I've needed to do anything. Its not ideal, but I does the job for the few sessions I have these days.