Nope bro..the brands are all comparable and that lamp will do ya fine.
Everyone does it differently, but I think you have the right idea with the conversion lamp. Rather than buying floros, I would go with the conversion..ramp up a decent crop..toss a bag out there/bring in some cash..and if I was gonna expand for the future....I'd spend my $$ on a 600 hps and then use that sweet little 250 for yer veg light.
If you need a floro veg light..just get a cheapo shop light..a 4 ft'r and go with that. Clones need very little light at first so they work very well for this.
good luck
bt dt