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As for autoflowering strains go, they use to be very crappy. However with a few good strain companies and individuals working with them getting better genetics and more consistent results is finally showing in todays market.
I am currently growing autoflowering plants... I am doing it as a step up kinda deal. You see you can harvest a few good quality strains in less then 10 weeks and thats both veg and flower included!! (not drying and curing though)
Reasons for autoflowering?
1] only one light and one grow space, granted you could veg then flower, but then you have long times in between harvest.
2] Automatically develops when grown outside in proper conditions
3] Needs less space thus more plants can be planted and you can make harvest every week if spaced out correctly!
4] Able to harvest quicker then most non auto plants out there
...5... so many more points can be made
There is some ak47, blueberry, and kush strains out there that are auto...They may not be AS POTENT as actual strain alone without any autoflowering genetics. However they are still good quality and offer bang for your buck!
Expensive? Not really you can get them at the same price as your other seeds. You can even go with regular seeds and do a seed run afterwards. There is already someone here on RIU that is doing a 100 plant start run using autos...Look at all the success have posted on autoflowers on RIU... granted a few have had problems.. but keep in mind genetics, and other conditions must be taken into consideration before bashing autoflowering plants.
My Reason for using autos? Well once I get thisharvest done from the autos.. I will have some good bud in a short amount of time... with some to sell to get more equipment such as another light and grow tent for flower room. With that being said... I also plan on having some regular strains growing as well, so come time to flower they will have had plenty of time to veg out. My goal here is to create a consistent harvest once a week and potentially work more with non autoflowering strains.
You can look at my sig below and see my current auto grows. I have Short Rider reg seeds from Nirvana in a DWC and 1 in soil. I also have Buddha Red Dwarf Auto Fem, A unknown purple strain (non auto), ak47 auto fem, and soon snow cap strain. I am hoping to get a male so that I can cross the auto with the ak47. People say its hard to breed autos...but if your breeding a auto w auto.. your gonna get better results. So if it does work out I can get more seeds, and not have to order more.
I look at ordering seeds, a cost that is a must for good genetics. Unless your fortunate enough to have good friends with access to that kind of stuff or good clones. I purchased my seeds from attitude and I am impressed...
...and when you do, you'll be needing a few bamboo sticks per plant due to the side shoots. The buds are very dense and the bud smells like a dead skunk!
....that's my favorite cash cropper! 
