THOSE PESKY LITTLE BEAUTIFUL SPEEDLIGHTS!

We have all probably been in many situations were having the sheer power of the sun was required on an advertising shoot to light up the side of a models face.  Oh and let's not forget about bouncing in a little fill light if that's not enough, right?  WRONG!  Keep in mind as I write this I still consider myself a studio-produced image type guy - but people lets be real - how much juice do you need?  I find myself viewing a growing number of situations where things called "speedlights" are showing their moxi.  In fact in some cases not as a back up but a preferred solution to the mounting problems location and event types encounter everyday.  Now I won't go as far as saying they are an adequate substitution for the standard studio pack and heads on a big ad shoot in LA,(I always wanted to say "LA") but the "super" power boxes of pure sunlight are hardly necessary either.  The right tool for the right job I think, and there are more and more jobs that those small little boxes of light work just fine and in fact can be more flexible and a BETTER solution.  Now the cost is certainly not cheap but they have certainly upped the anti in performance value. These babies have gone Hollywood.  No longer a single flash mounted to the top of your camera throwing off horrible light.  It is now multiple units, sometimes all of which are "off" camera and fired through a system that allows for lighting ratios and power compensation.  Now admittedly I am certainly no expert on this, but as per usual have an opinion.  I have asked fellow teachers, students and photographers to share insight and techniques that will serve to help those out there not able or in need to harness the power of the sun and just are after great pictures.