Rychu, when my original batteries failed, I emailed Ed at Ambient. At that stage rechargeable alkaline batteries was out of stock for some period. (...)
Dear @Dupreezd,
Producer WS1001 and clones - requires a rechargeable battery.
The supplier of the equipment to the customers, on the other hand, writes various weird things if it is unable to supply the replacement part or its substitute. He writes just to avoid having to spoil his brand - in this case "Ambient" - or claims for cash back for a defective product during the guarantee period.
Dear @Dupreezd, physics can not just be missed. The alkaline current - large or small - that causes the battery to produce irreversible gaseous processes. Excess of these gasses leads to the destruction of batteries and the formation of secondary substances that cause erosion of the battery case.
The metal housing of one alkaline battery will withstand this destructive process and another will not ...
The manufacturer's recommendations are to comply with them. Of course the buyer of the product "knows better" and does not have to follow the recommendations.
Take so may the above mentioned.