So are you getting over 1.5g/w with a strictly DIY LED setup or not? Perfomrmance is what shatter when you are saying that it is blowing it away. Cost ties into that but yield is what matters. Supra was one I was referring to when I said the great DIY'ers but I also know he runs a 600hps in there somewhere too. Like he just clarified. But there are others who have show some great grows, but not every DIY is a success is what I said...not that they are hard.
I have learned it all in theory too and know exactly how I would do my own and have it sourced already. I have the wiring schematics and everything. But I have an arsenal of AT's so there is no point for me to invest more for space that I already have great performing lights for.
And there is a big difference when you open up a apache panel. There is not one component that is not basically a top of the line component. Chip, drivers, housing, heat sink, fans, connections, lenses. Not to say you can't get all of that with a DIY but the cost savings to replicate for cheaper is not actually there.
Using your own design is something different but still comes back to my 1st question...are you getting over 1.5g/w or close to that with a strictly DIY led setup?