I have no real place in a debate of this sort, since I am brand new, but if you are not convinced, why not try some experiments on your own and see what happens? I would rather take the advice of those that have been doing this for years with great success than to have to learn everything the hard way, but I am also hard-headed at times and have to learn through my own failures (I have a science background so that is sometimes my downfall).
However, I do not have the time and opportunity to try all of the experimenting I would like. My poor dog has to put up with my "experiments". She was on her own for a couple of years before we got her and had to fend for herself, there are many things about her that make her seem pretty close to the ground. Anyway, she has had to put up with me and my lighting experiments, and all I really know is if I light her at 100 yards with the white light, I can see her but she first blinks, and then immediately closes her eyes and won't look back towards me again. You can tell it bothers her eyes.
When I shine the red light, which is very cheap and doesn't seem to go that far (but it actually does, I have seen eyes far, far away but can't really estimate the yardage, more than 200 I am sure), her eyes glow like candles and she doesn't turn away at all, in fact if I am calling her in she will come right to me with the light shining in her eyes. That is enough for me.
Of all the great advice I have gotten here, the one I am sold on is to have good, red filtered lights. I can't spring for what I want yet because it is not in my budget, but I am definitely sold on getting better lights (probably a cap-fitted light for my situation) when I can. Nothing has frustrated my efforts more than having my lights die on me at the wrong time.
I have a question for anyone that made it through my long post. If I get a "coon-type" head mounted light, will that shield me the same way a spotlight would? Will they be able to see my profile, gun etc? I need help making a decision on what I am going to buy. I am doing "close in" hunting.
Thanks!