...and, as I said before, remember that not everyone rides in the same environment as you do. On my route, there is almost NO opportunity for anyone to hit me in a left cross, pullout, or other such front-end collision. The route is nearly all rural, and there's only one significant cross street. Furthermore, I'm heading from the country into town in the morning; hardly anyone is going the other way. I'll have 30 cars pass me in the 10 miles of my commute, and 0 or 1 car come the other way.

For *ME*, rear lighting is very important, because almost all the cars I encounter are approaching from the rear, at night, probably not fully awake, and there's NOTHING else on the road (not even other cars, really) nor any stop signs/lights or anything, to make them wake up.

Front lighting is also very important, because it's pitch black otherwise; I need a light good enough to see potholes in the gravel road, ruts in the ice, and the deer that are crossing the road ahead.

That's not typical, but I really believe that EVERYONE has a unique ride experience. It's good to relate your experiences, but it's also important to remember not to tell other people what to do; your solution may not be their best solution.

Personally I just bought Dinotte lights front and back. The rear light makes me feel safer in my situations.