Wow Zen that was quite a rant. It actually makes me feel like I need to defend the Ego a little. While the Ego is not the be-all-end-all e-cig, I absolutely believe that it is a great starter for many people. My first
mod also used 10440
batteries, I absolutely LOVED that thing, compared to a standard 510. I eventually ditched it in favor of a PureSmoker V3, giving the 10440 mod to my mother, who happily used it until I got her an Ego.
The 10440
batteries simply couldn't hold up to a 2.0 carto for any length of time compared to an ego, and battery life once again becomes a major issue. While reading these threads, time and time again I have done side-by-side comparisons with my ego and V3 with a 17670 battery, and I honestly can not tell the huge difference that people claim. While there does seem to be SOME difference, there isn't nearly enough of one for me to crucify the ego or to justify the weight of the V3 at all times. Sometimes, many times actually, I simply
prefer to use the Ego.
To say that the ONLY benefit to the ego is battery life just seems to me to be a half truth. The ego can run 2 ohm carto's in excellent fashion, which is a major step up from standard atomizers. I do not recall seeing any posts with people claiming that a LR carto of 2 ohms has fried the mosfet on their ego/fat batt, it always seems to be atomizers in the 1.5 range. In the past month or so, I've given out Ego kits to 7 people, along with a package of Boge 2 ohm carto's and some juice, and NONE of those people are currently smoking. The majority of those people had previously tried e-cigs sold at the local smoke shop, which is a way overpriced Joye 306, and simply didn't see the appeal. The ego has made converts out of these people. If I had tried to price a mod to these people, or even tried to pass off the size of most mods to these people, they never would have made the switch. Mods are a great thing, but many people have to work up to them. The ego is a long lasting battery, capable of using better atomizers/cartomizers, in a decent size and a pretty good looking package. While I have always tried to base my recommendations on what people are looking for, I do see the appeal of the Ego considering I use one myself in favor of my mod on a regular basis. I'm fairly certain that my ego's will begin collecting dust once my ProVari arrives, but c'mon, look past your "hatred" of the ego and see it's finer points, and maybe you can see the reason behind the ego-mania, even if you don't agree with it.
In the end, it's not the best e-cig, but it's not the worst. When you factor in starting costs, size, battery life and looks, it is clearly capable of serving the needs of a great deal many people. In the end, the nature of personal preference will mean that there will always be people with an undying love of a product that you despise. It's never going to end. Just as you love the 801, I find it lacking over the ego in every category that you give it praise for. We are simply searching/tasting/feeling different things.
By the way, I'd have to find the thread, but it seems the ego is not a 3.2v device. Due to the PWM nature of the ego, the loaded voltage is closer to 3.4 or 3.5.