1. I see blinky lights sooner than not, so I assume other drivers do also
2. I don't know if I get more room because of a blinky light or not. I do notice I get more room more often in working class areas. The mo' money and bigger house areas, the more agressive the drivers. And believe it or don't, the folks in Detroit are pretty generous with road space. Personally I think it's because the less money folks have, the closer they know they are to ending up on a bike!
3. Until I read Grant's book, I was all blinky all the time. I'm re-thinking that now and I'll probably go one solid light and one blinky.
4. I don't have a rechargeable blinky light yet, but I'm going to use commuting as an excuse to get one - and to answer your question: NO
- I'm going to haul a small 10Ah Li-battery as a back up energy source. 10Ah should add well over 10~12 hours to my 1.2Ah recharge head lamp.
(edit: don't blink headlamps PLEASE!)
5. Be seen. But don't believe you are being seen. Don't trust drivers. Assume the worst and most of the time you'll be disappointed,
most people are pretty ok.
Your observations about social class don't surprise me. I forgot what Grant Peterson had to say about judging distance. Does one solid and one blinking light take care of this issue.
Why the request for no blinking headlamps? I only do this during the day and drivers very clearly see me earlier.
Your
#5 is the most important. Thanks for the thoughtful post.