Here is what i want to know. Besides utlility (electric) bills and your time and labor what is the next biggest cost to run your setup? Mine used to be medium and nutrient costs. I reuse coir mostly now so its basically nutrient cost. And i been seriously considering making my own or choosing a very inexpensive brand like jack peters or something. Water bill where i live can get pretty silly too. And yearly bulb replacement costs for roughly 8000 watts can shock you if you dont prepare and anticipate for it. Co2 tank refills in my area were 18$ for a 20lb tank a month and a half ago. Now they went up to 31$. This shit for me is starting to factor into my grows. Back in the day i paid NONE of this any mind. Pot just isnt fetching the big bucks like it used too. Supply and demand my friends.....adapt and move forward. Anticipate the changes as best you can.
It is supply and demand, I liken it to restaurants, I am in CA, santa cruz, and there is TONS of competition for the herb.
BUT, like a restaurant.. anybody can cook a steak, but not a whole lot can do it WELL.
I concentrate on unique terpines, flavors, pheno types of f1 crosses, or whatever I can to differentiate my product from the dispensaries.
Growing technique, and unique strains are where it's at.
When your customers smoke your product and the first thing they mutter is "wow"
That's the key.
It's not easy, and it's REALLY difficult to do well on a grand scale (just like restaurants)
the best food is always made from a "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant.
By an old school cook that can make the damndest steak ya ever had.
----for the record---
I've never even come close to 1 gram per watt, per month. No way, not even half that