I don't think you should judge all LED's by that cheap CatEye. I've got the Dinotte 5w, and I love it--it's very bright, never requires a bulb replacement, is economical to run in that 4 new NiMh batteries can be purchased for ~$10, and can use alkaline AAs, available at every convenience store, in a pinch. It's also got the best mount I've ever seen--extremely secure, but simple as can be to remove or switch to another bike. What's not to like? Ok, it could be cheaper, and it could have better runtime. But the latter problem is solved by carrying an extra set of cells in an extra holder. Makes a swap a matter of seconds.
I honestly have no desire to upgrade to HID. I just don't need more light for road riding than the Dinotte and a very small flashlight (usually a FireFlyIII) mounted to my helmet.
Jack