Originally Posted by UniChris

That kind of strobe is pretty pointless - as you've pointed out you can't even see where you're going yourself. I've very occasionally switched my light to it when crossing a poorly designed road intersection, but the usual sequential mode switch is a bad user interface.

What would really be useful would be being able to switch to that mode with a momentary press of a button; then when you've called attention to yourself release the button to go back to a normal light-your-way light and keep it out of the other parties eyes. Another reason I prefer to have my primary pathfinding light on my helmet - additionally even a properly aimed bright bar light is in the eyes of oncoming riders when there's a change in grade between you - you can be stuck riding along holding a hand up to block their light surprising periods of time. If I do run a bright bar light, it's for secondary area lighting long after dark on a deserted trail, and because it's secondary to the primary aimed wherever my head is, I can turn it off or cover it with a gloved hand in the rare cases there is anyone else.