I had been looking for a reliable torch for a while, too. I had a few cheapies, tried the inserts for the zippo, etc, with mixed results. Some were OK, but nothing great.
Just bought the Palio lighter (about $50 IIRC).
I've only had it for about 2 weeks now, but definately my favorite so far. And from what I hear, their customer service is top notch, although I don't have any first hand expierience with it yet.
I have had the Palio cutter for a few years now, and it has been great, so I figured I'd give the lighter a try. It appears well made, and I am happy with it so far.