I think differently than most here. Mostly because I am not in their shoes and they are not in mine.
LED's are worth it for commercial producers and very small growers. In between...I think is not so worth it cost wise. For the small guys it allows things never to be done by any other light in such a space...it's like taking little chunks of a 1000 hps and putting it in a small closet or wardrobe.
Being a real producer is the only way to quickly justify the start up cost. If you are a producer...you can afford to spend more on lights. Doesn't mean some want to...but they could if they were already on a successful path in growing. All that cost is paid back after harvest 1(actually about 1/2 the harvest really). And everything after that is in pocket gains from higher potency, less lighting, and less cooling.
Many will come here and say that led's can't produce at an hps level. 98% of them can not. But the 2% that are...ARE. And that is what matters.
I don't think that led's are for beginners. They are not cheap, nor are they magic. But they are the best available source of light for plant growth right now if you know where to look. A very hard thing to know where to look...but they are in the world at this very moment, I promise.
@SomeGuy The feeling is mutual. Anytime you are in the sonoma county area, bowls on me! Same for
@Eraserhead and a few others(if you have to ask...it ain't you).
One day we will all be able to sit down in public and sesh all we want.
@Positivity ...you had me rolling. Iron fist!