what is cheap and what is expensive? IMHO lights that are cheaper than high quality are more likely to yield less of lower quality, and break more often. Both should be factored in before purchasing. The problem there is uneducated buyers make poor decisions regardless of what item/product they buy. Ignorance is who a slick advertisement copy writer targets to market their crappy wares
A way to evaluate the true cost would be if you were planning on selling some
ASSUMING THE MORE EXPENSIVE LIGHT YIELDS >10% MORE AND/OR HAS A STREET PRICE OF $20/G
If 1 gram of weed you like is $15 on the street, but you want to grow your own. Now, let's assume you are a seasoned grower and your yields are comparable from the get-go. Now, if that describes you, you're probably looking for a bigger light than the best $600 light produces
Lets say a $400 light is advertised to be as good as a $600, but the $600 light is recommended by growers who confirm it yields 2 oz that sells for $20/g+
Lets say the $400 light yields are similar (not likely!), but lack the quality (most likely), but you are able to sell it for $15/g: a $5/g difference between it and the $600 light
If your yield is 2 oz and you sell one @$15 X 28g= $420
if your product was better and you could sell it for $20 x 28 = $560
The $400 light product yields $160 LESS (almost the difference in lower cost light in just one oz), again assuming it yields 2 oz, which again, is not likely, and neither is quality likely to be comparable
So, how many grows or ozs sold at $20/g would it take to pay for the better light, with higher yields and superior quality?
hth