The one thing about growing is that if you want, you can read 1000's of pages on just one aspect of it, and still not get close to mastering it, or you can read 10 pages, and have a general idea. Lol, the depth or learning curve you want to experience is entirely based on the individual. Anything cannabis related definitely has a learning curve.
As for the lights. I'm running an A/C'd 1k now, and she's tough to keep cool. I can't imagine keeping a DE grow cool, in a tent anyway. Also, I have read about people buying the XXL Raptor hoods, and adding an HPS and MH socket into the same hood...or just two MH's or two HPS's for a 2Kw air cooled light. I could see using that with a lightmover in a 4x8.
I feel like if you switch over to the cob leds/leds you're going to end up absorbed into learning how to build them, etc. It's almost like people give up growing and focus on building lights, lol. HPS has been around since the 60's, it's been perfected. Only issue is heat and electricity. Thing is, I have insanely cheap electricity, to the tune of 9.3 cents/kW Hour. If you're not worried about electricity, I don't see how you can go wrong with HID/HPS. I'm not knocking on LED, don't get me wrong...I would at least give LED a shot if what I wanted wasn't so expensive up front.