I run autos for speed and yield. 24/0 lighting is a tiny electrical cost increase over 12/12.(+$50/m2 per 12 weeks) And I've only had one plant push past 12 so far. 12 weeks is the point where I'd say SoG clones should perform as fast. (2 week root, 2 week veg, 8 week flower) Yield is better than any photoperiods I've ever ran.
I agree that clones make for consistency, and that's what most commercial operations want, but for home growing, autos are gonna get the fastest biggest bud.
This is a 4oz Dinafem critical+ auto. My biggest square foot yield, but she pushed past 12 weeks.(96 day seed to weed, 1045g/m2)
I dropped to giving them half a square foot for a consistent 1-2oz per plant. (500-1000g/m2) single 2.5'x5' tent, 21 pots, 28 counting seedling pots. Current average 754g/m2, 1.63g/w.(based on 21 plants) Organically grown bud, I expect a dialed in hydro grower to see bigger returns.
Seed cost is minimal here at around $5 per (mephisto genetics), since this is LOS, entire maintenance cost is under $15 per plant(electricity, soil, seed). They're also on a perlite wick bed, so even the labor is minimal.
For personal growing, it's hard to argue against autos, just as potent, more bud in less time.