Is it butane with a flint wheel or a button? If it's the button, from what I'm understanding, the issue is usually with the bleeding and the refilling technique: ie. bleeding it with a pencil, (never a pen or metal object,) with the flame set to the lowest setting (always). You should hear no air coming out of it after a few attempts before refilling it and then resetting the flame level - put it at the highest to start and then you can dial it down. You wait five minutes or so after filling to try lighting it - it won't light immediately after filling. Never fill you lighter without the flame setting down to nothing. And ALWAYS bleed it before filling. Note as well, that butane doesn't work that well in cold temperatures - ie. cold winter, versus cold room. When it's colder outside, you can keep it in your pocket.
Yes - I use a Zippo and Bics, but I do have a few butanes torch lighters that I use for cigars - a beautiful Xikar single flame and a Siglo. I've had both for 10 years plus, no problems whatsoever, if you follow those rules above. And yes - it's worth buying good butane - the triple filtered if possible. (I can't remember the brands off the top of my head,).
Yes - the other lighters are good - but the butane is fine as well. Cheap butane lighters can sometimes be a problem, but like many cheap lighters in general, (maybe not counting the Bics,). I've seen so many people throw away butane lighters that they spent good money on when they were perfectly servicable.
If you choose to move to another type of lighter later on, go for it. But I think there is some hope for your butane one as well, especially if you've put a few dollars down on it.
