I am NOT a fan of the original Hot Shot. It has a lot of fans and when it was new it was one of the best, but IMO it's too spotty, and there are better lights out there now.

I'm currently a BIG fan of the Blitzu 168T, < $20 on Amazon. Given the choice between the two (I own both) I would take the Blitzu (in fact I do, every morning when I leave the Hot Shot at home). It has a 180 degree light spread, and I'm coming around to the view that a physically larger light makes as much difference as brightness. The Blitzu does both.

I do use the Hot Shot as my low mounted, steady light if I forgot to charge or can't find the Axiom that I usually use there.

If I had to keep the choice to conventionally shaped blinkies, I like the Performance Axiom Pulse 60, but it's not available on Amazon (Performance Bike sells it). The Portland Design Works lights always get good reviews too, if you want one that takes AAA cells.

Blitzu also has a conventionally shaped light if that's what you're looking for.