In my training as a young officer ,we were taught we could put a flashlight in strobe mode and roll it along the floor away from ourselves and directed in the area of our search....being used inside as in building searches......we were told it would not give away our location and disorient whoever else was in the building.
I would have to wonder about this one (how long ago was that?).
I think Ken Hackathorn (among others?) advises against this - Murphy's law being what it is, not only have you just given up your means to light someone up (if this is the only light you have), but you run the risk of the light coming to rest and illuminated you - the criminal probably appreciates that.
I think he also doesn't recommend the old FBI method of holding the flashlight above and far away from you (the theory being if they shoot the light, they'll miss you). Trying that method can be tricky in tight spaces, and trying to hit the target with a light hung out in that method can be problematic.
If you don't light up the target, then you have probably given away your position since your aim was not accurate enough to disorient the target.
And no, a strobe does not disorient me when I'm behind it, but it sure as heck does when I'm on the other end.
I'm no big proponent of 'em, but I also have no problem with them on a light as long as they cannot be activated easily / by accident.
'Bout all my lights are Streamlights, which I prefer for simplicity of operation, and the fact that they come on high beam first.
I don't want a button / software that cycles through 50 modes to do what I want. If I'm carrying the light as a possible SD weapon, I want the first mode activated to be high beam.