...is how they take away whatever kick-ass heavy duty flashlight/lantern you've found and make you work just to find a standard flashlight. Over and over this happens. Seriously, when I get a heavy duty lantern I want that fucker for the rest of the damn game! I can understand taking away my weapons or something, but my lantern? Come on!

I know. Any time they go back to giving you the old weapons, it seems so arbitrary.

This is a valid argument, although it  unintentionally liberates you from that "oh man, I better hoard all my strongest weapons until the very end" feeling that I get from many games. 
 
You know those flares will be taken from you in an hour.  Might as well enjoy firing them right into a big ax taken while you have them.

You do make a good point, Roomrunner.