Or how flashlights make a little circle of light in otherwise near-total darkness, as opposed to real flashlights which light up a pretty wide area.

Next thing I know you are going to tell me that punching trees isn't an effective way to collect wood.

this can all be solved with expert world-building: for example, maybe the nighmare creatures siphon the energy of the flashlights? and for breath of the wild, maybe dr. eggman has secretly infiltrated the world's metal supply chain and sabotaged it with poor alloys.