Yeah, I agree. The arguing (especially in this particular subforum) is really out of hand....But I must confess that I have gotten so used to seeing it (and being perversely-entertained by it), it just now seems part of the landscape.
As far as
which lights can beat the other lights ass in a streetfight kind of stuff, I have seen pictures posted of outstanding results from every kind of light imaginable (almost). And since that IS the case, then it just goes to reason that good growers will get good results under whatever lights they choose to use...yes, including Mars and Platinum, shop lights, twisty CFLs, etc.
If you're a small time, personal-use type grower (like me), then all the super-efficiency stuff that gets argued so much, isn't really even an issue. Sure, if you run a recreational cannabis greenhouse operation it will make a difference...but I reckon that most of us are just small timers. If grower "A" has to pay an extra $10 dollars a month on electricity because he happens to use HID lights, then I guess he'll have to buy one less six-pack of beer to make up the difference in his monthly expense budget!
HA!
I'm going to read every single thread that Sativied posts here and so are you all...so carry on!