I've gotten great results from AN. At first I burned the shit out of my plants, but AN wasn't the problem. I just a didn't understand plant nutrition. Since I've learned the ins and out, AN has given me just as good results as any.
Plant nutrition is all about understanding balanced ratios and EC. Once you understand that, and can read what your plant is telling you it needs, you can pretty much use anything so long as you keep the micro, and macro nutrients balanced.
I've even gotten miracle gro to produce "healthy" plants. I say that in quotes because they looked like happy plants but the only thing to get people more stirred up thy AN, is MG lol.
I started with AN because when I first started I didn't have a clue. It was what the hydro store pointed me to. I understand why it's easier for new growers to go that route when ignorance is a factor. It's just easier to follow the hydro store advice that to digest all the info that can at first overwhelm.
Since then though, the easiest and healthiest plants I've grown are either from Dyna Gro or a semi organic route I take when in soil. Both methods are super simple and a fraction of the cost with equal or even better results in my experience
If you ever get a chance in soil look up two products. Chickity doo doo (it's composted chicken manure), and fox farms marine cuisine. Mix them right into your soil and then you just water all the way to harvest.
Like I said, any balanced plan will work. It's a matter of preference. As you become more experienced though, you'll be like everyone else that realizes "why pay more?" And you'll also start to value the simplicity of solid one part feeds like Dyna.
Good luck with finding what works best for you
