Re: They may indeed have used alkalines
"My experience for toys and other high-drain devices is that you need your head examined if you don't use rechargeables."
While I agree with your comment, there are conditions where convenience overrides pure economics. For hand held equipment that is used onsite, I look for devices that use regular batteries, because I can keep a stock of a couple of loads for some dollars, rather than the alternative of purchasing a Li-Ion at $50-100.
Not only that, "regular" flavours come in not only NiMh, but they're available off the shelf as Lithium Iron Disulfides, which would be better suited to low temperatures than the other chemistries.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
