I also think there is a possibility that some standing flows for smaller ter'angreal may have been discrete flows that have been tied off in a localized area. So instead of a physical battery powering your flashlight, for example, you'd have tied off flows that would generate power when a certain movement set off a conditioned flow (currently known as wards). Instead of a switch, gesturing in a certain way would cause the flows to behave a certain way.

I'm imagining a non-channeler in the Age of Legends entering a room, clapping his hands to turn on the lights, maybe making an upper or downward movement with one hand to modify how bright the lights were and then snapping a finger to set his couch to recline.