Why doesn't anybody use torches? Probably because we don't want to have to wait 24 hours for the linen to grow out of the ground.
Seriously, with darkness handicapping players from playing 50% of the time, why are portable light sources so hard to acquire?
It shouldn't be that hard to improvise a torch, take 5 branches, tie them together with string, maybe add a piece of bark or resin to keep the torch burning for a decent amount of time.