[annnnd]

I hope YOU don't work in UX... ;)

The need to educate a customer usually surfaces when someone was unable to produce a proper product. Sure, you need to warn users when your product can't be used under some circumstances, but if possible, you should aim at fulfilling the users' expectations instead.

[benjamincburns]

Touché. The comment was mostly directed at the hyperbole of "10 page manuals" and such.

I totally agree with what you're saying, though.

The issue at hand is that consumers want something that is impossible for manufacturers to give to them. That is, a 100% efficient lighting solution which shines light exactly when they want it, exactly how they want it, and lasts forever. Consumers have gotten used to a market where there has been almost no innovation for over a hundred years (in the driver side, fixtures are a different story). Now that there's some diversity in the market, consumers are unhappy because it's not matching expectations. The only way that will change is if manufacturers properly set expectations.

[JoeAltmaier]

I'm not so sure we won't see the desired solution, and soon. Pretty good illumination over a reasonable field would do the job. LED bulbs may get there sooner than you think, unless their reputation is irredeemably tarnished by the defective (read: not meeting minimum expectation) products being overmarketed today.