While the Bic lighters are no doubt very convenient they will soot up the needle and transfer that soot to the eye of the fly.
If this doesn't bother you than by all means knock your self out. The alcohol lamp on the other hand burns without the bothersome
soot, can be refueled very inexpensively, and as it stands alone requires only one hand to use, which promotes more accurate work.
It appears that one poster has found a way to keep the needle in the flame while he works on the fly. This is a very interesting adaptation
and would insure the red hot needle is always available to incinerate pesky foreign matter in the eye.
Tight lines,
George