My girlfriend is in the adult novelties industry and she gave me one. Had it not been free, I would not have bothered. But I did try one out and I have to say…meh. All in all, it doesn’t really have anything on good ol’ masturbation.
Also, they now have ‘single use’ devices. Not quite the same as a Fleshlight, but the same priciple. They look like sterno cans with a rounded top. They come pre-lubed. Yes, there is a considerable ‘ick’ factor.
I have a friend who got one (really - I’m a chick) because he suffered from what Dan Savage calls “death grip” and thought it would be a good way to get used to a “lighter touch” during solo activities.
He likes it but he says it’s a pain in the ass to take care of. Gotta wash and rinse it after every use and there’s something you have to do beforehand. So it’s not something you can look forward to after a long day at work - you have to plan.