Remember that 20% of that price is tax and that a decent pedelec runs between €2k and €3k, so it's not really excessive.

there is a glut on the market, battery headlights for bicycles can double as flasnhlights ..

I have 2 4x AA battery powered , the German B&M, displaced the Asian "Planet bike", which became the flashlight.

the new one shaped the beam to put the light on the street, not half in the trees. , but as a flashlight that is OK

bulb/LED, In the center of a parabolic reflector is how flashlights have been for 100 years?+/..



but for durability Maglights are tough to beat .. 5-D cell ones, in fact, double as Police batons.





...

M99 Por is the top model from Supernova, the also offer the M99 Pure+, M99 Pure, M99 MINI PRO-25 and M99 MINI PURE-45.
Several dozens have been sold new on eBay.de for around $150 each in autumn 2017.
The Outbound Lighing Focal Series Kickstarter Light offers 1500 (just 100 less than the M99 Pro) for around $150.
bikeforums.net/electronics-lighting-gadgets/1128979-outbound-lights.html

$500 is nearly half what I spent on my pedalec conversion, and a third of the total cost of my pedalec e-bike build.

You won't find a solid pedelec bike over here (IGH) for less than €1500 (although €300 or about $350 of that would be tax).

Same here for factory-built. That's why I didn't want factory built.

You won't find a Bugatti Veyron anywhere for less than $600,000. That doesn't make it a sensible purchase.

Into which decisions did all the advice here finally end?

I’d say general advice is to 1st look at your very own real needs (and budget). Sometimes one simply needs a secondary light for use in only a few dark spots.
Then, when it comes to choosing your ‘weapon of the night / darkslayer’, look beyond the lumen or brand. Think about e.g. comfort in use.

Since I asked the question my commute has changed – is longer. Therefore I’d suggest you think about battery life too.

In Germany Pedelecs with motor and battery from Bosch starts at 1400€.
linkradquadrat.de/sonderangebote/857/focus-planet2-6.7-bosch-performance-line-500-wh-trapez-modell-2019-schwarz?c=15