Sorry, Thrasher, normally you and I are on the same page, but this time I have to digress.
I've been a flashaholic longer than I've been vaping, I've read, learned and done a lot with flashlights, and continue to do so. Most of where our mods came from came from flashlight improvements that got implemented in other ways.
Anyway, from CPF,
AW Batteries?
As for why they recommenced them, unlike flashlight manufactures, that a lot of different sized batteries will fit into the tube and work, PV's tubes are made to fit the particular battery they have on hand! Try and fit an Ultrafire 3000mah battery in a Lava tube, it wont fit! Fits and works in all my 18650 flashlights, same with the AW's, which are shorter and so on.
Provape built the tube, the circuit board and electronics around the AW battery. The recommend this battery because lesser batteries will make the circuitry think the battery is dead/dying when pushed and wont work. I'm not saying the new Sony's and Panasonic's high drains aren't capable, or even better in many ways. BUT you and I know what we are doing and why we are doing it. Many have no idea, most people think that any 18650 battery is an 18650 battery. They aren't, not buy any stretch of the imagination! Some are 1/4" longer, some 1/4" shorter, some are high drain, most aren't! Most of them are over rated, the 3000mah Ultrafire mentioned above being a prime example!
I'm just saying they chose this battery for a reason and I certainly can't test every one out there to make sure it's going to fit and function to say "Yeah, that one works great, but this one it doesn't like!" AW's aren't that much more, I just advise people to stick with the manufactures recommendation, it keeps it simple and safe for everyone.