I admit it, I think they're great.  Nothing beats sitting out on a chilly starlit night with the glow and heat from a fire; or a fire basket; or a patio heater.  But according to the BBC everyone wants to do it now; so there are expected to be over 2 million of the things in back gardens alone, never mind outside pubs for smokers.  And it does seem a bit insane, fitting energy saving light bulbs indoors then going outside to heat up the night sky.  Solar powered LEDs and jumpers don't quite cut it.