Auto flowering marijuana is a relatively new "thing" and I think it panders to younger crowds who grew up with it. If it's no different other than light schedule, then why does it look and grow differently? That's an indication that it's definitely not the same type of plant. In my view, why even bother with it? Is photo period marijuana so difficult to grow that there needs to be an alternative? I don't think so. Plus, most auto flower stuff doesn't really even resemble the same plant that I grow. Auto flower weed looks like "Cleopatra" from the Addams Family! Anyway, to each his own. I have been a marijuana user since 1974 so I grew up with landrace marijuana and that's where legit breeders need to put their energy, in my opinion. Everything that made landrace marijuana great has been lost to modern hybridization. Breeders should be working on bringing it back. Why breeders are wasting their time with auto flowering stuff, I have no idea. There's no real need for it. I guess it's an achievement just for the sake of doing it....? I don't know. You tell me.