Very nice! I am interested in hearing what the result is with the new battery. I'm inclined to change out a battery every year or so, not to wait the full 5+y for it to die. As long as I can rely on it beyond a year, then that would qualify it for serious purposes.
Nope, not too fancy. Very low low tech. In fact, it's older than I am. My dad built it in the 1960s from a Heathkit.
Swinging it would almost work, if it was bright enough to see at swinging distance and not tumbling all over.