There are various flashlight techniques with hand held lights and WML. It's not enough to play cowboy with your friend IMHO or suggest toy guns and welder's goggles. Try to find a quality FOF that uses simunition types or airsoft. They sting enough make it real. I've peeled a bloody tee-shirt off my back from a close range encounter that went south.
To the OP about strobes, so I did a little informal research to compare to what I previously said.
A long serving SWAT commander said they were hype, gadget of the day and he took the course on them. Much prefers being able to control the light. Switching between functions is a pain and no one really were disabled in his experience.
Several officers said that they would discombulate drunks but not normally functioning folks. One said they did mess up some armed folks but their mental state was unknown in his comment.
One said that if you shine it in front of a person running away, they might trip.
A few said that they were good for signaling other officers and ambulances when you wanted them to come your way.
One said that he saw officers so concerned with trying to get the light into someone's eyes (so they would get magically zapped) that they ignored hands and waists. Lost situational awareness.
Now their use isn't Joe Homeowner aimed down the hallway for a bit hoping that the opponent (who of course isn't skilled) will be discombobulated. They
didn't see it with their encounters.
As far as the mini-debate here about your opponent - well -
https://moderncombatandsurvival.com/featured/shocking-fbi-report-criminals-gun-training/
According to a recent study on violent criminals conducted by the FBI, a full 40% of criminal attackers had received formal firearms training.
That’s nearly half who received formal, proper training – the same kind of training you’d invest in.
And they don’t stop there…
A full 80% regularly practiced with firearms, with an average of 23 practice sessions a year.
But here’s the stat that gets to me (and you’d damn well better take seriously)…
More than 40% of criminals had been in at least one gunfight…
and a quarter of these guys had traded bullets in more than 5.
I again note, folks are talking about you and opponent being square on and shining the light square on. Try exercises, that's not what happens. It isn't the High Noon rehearsed gun fight.
So:
What is the point of the strobe light? Is it effective? Seems like a gimmick to me but that's why I'm making this thread, to see if it actually adds effectiveness to the defensive firearm.
Thoughts?
The question is answered that it is not that useful and may be detrimental in the home defense scenario. If you haven't had realistic experience or training with them - try to get it.