Yea I always ride with the bright light on too. The only time I'll turn it off (at night) is if a car flashes their brights at me... as soon as I pass, it goes back on.

Couple stories: I put Brite Lites xenons on my bike last year just to give some brighter light. One night some guy swerved right in front of me from the oncoming lane... good thing I wasn't riding the line or I would have been a hood ornament. At any rate, I busted a U and ran his a$$ down. He yelled at me because my head lights "blinded" him and he couldn't see where he was going. I said "Well next time you're blinded, swerve into the curb and not into oncoming traffic!"
Then this spring I was behind a guy at a stop light minding my own business. He rolled down his window and yelled something to me - I couldn't hear him with the mp3 player on so I just nodded at him. He proceeds to throw his car in reverse and damn near hit my bike. When that light turned green I pulled along side of him and gave him the good ol' "you're #1 in my book buddy" sign!

Bottom line is: SOME people really notice that bright light - which isn't always a good thing as in these cases. But I still keep it on.