actually a spring staff sounds mighty interesting. I can imagine getting my skin pinched in it, unless sheathed somehow. Course, it might be super heavy too.

[But the guy in the video doesn't understand the difference between pendulums and stalls, which is really problematic when you're trying to learn real stalls that run parallel to the ground :( ]

There are a number of reasons why torch poi are fun - and not just a lazy cop out. Any of you who've seen Mike Farrel (poispinner.com) on this year's Circles of Light can see some really fun moves that are completely separate from anything poi or staff related. That said, I think spinning torches (club-spinning style) are quite challenging, and I'd recommend them to people interested in that sort of thing ("snakes" (the move not the wick-type) are gorgeous when done well). Using the knob at the end for control gives a lot more grace, fluidity, and move options once the new grips are learned and practiced.

A couple of years ago I was having a lot of fun with some really short torch poi, but I was using them for glowstringer-style string manipulations.