I love, love, love hot stuff. And I love using unique hot sauces (try Scorpion hot or extra hot if you see it! Very delicious!) But if I'm cooking and it's something I'm proud of and spent a fair amount of time preparing I just add a crap ton of red pepper flakes so the flavor doesn't change. If I could only use one spice the rest of my life, including salt and pepper, I'd just choose red pepper flakes.