I'd assume if you were a black market grower you would want to do photos and clone cheaper in the long run
Basically
I dont think hes moving any ridiculous amount of weight tho so its probably more his hobby and way to supply his own use, in that case autos are totally viable.
a little less predictable and a bit more finicky in the seed stage but autos definitely have a place in commercial cultivation and the home growing market.
having said that..... I have been growing autos and photos for almost a decade now nonstop and I have to say if your looking to maximize efficiency and yield in an indoor setting with minimal margin for error (overhead costs) a predictable clone is going to be the way to go every single time. plus they use less light and you can control temps better with 12/12
outdoors tho its another story. mixing in autos through the season gives you a nice steady crop of bud through the season (and even winter if you have a greenhouse) without having to deal with the pain in the ass of pulling tarps for light dep.
I think autos are the future. someday when this lame ass legalization drops the prices of weed so low its no longer worth stealing we will see "dwarf cannabis" sold in home depot and lowes stores for little old ladies to grow mixed in with there zinnias and tomatos like most other herbs today.