They don't 'suck', that's just the way they are. Different chemistries give different voltages and have different power curves as they discharge. If the voltage is not high enough for your use, use more batteries in an external pack, or use regular alkalines. I have been using sealed lead-acid batteries for years with great success, they are simple to charge but heavy.

We've had very good luck with 'em. Got a bunch online at a place that sells only rechargables and had good reviews.

They don't make them like they used to, which is good. They hold a charge much better and last much, much longer than before.

Most rechargable cells (NiCad, NiMh) are full at 1.2 volts, so you found some really good ones. A normal AA cell will produce about 1 amp for about 1 hour while dropping from 1.5 to 1.0 volts.

Volts are not power, Volts * Amps are Power (watts)
Watts are not energy, Watts over time is energy (watt-hours)

Cheap rechargeable cells will provide about the same energy as a alkaline cell, but a good rechargeable can do twice that while staying at about 1.2 volts the whole time, so there is much more energy in the higher quality rechargeable cells.