the ballasts would actually last longer, ballasts are designed to turn off and on the way we use them. we turn them on hot and start them up cold. but i couldn't quite get clear how the freedom technology works, i'll have to email them again. but what it does is mask the times for when the lights switch on example 6pm everday etc. this the pattern they are referring to. it is a big issue in the upcoming months and years if you running 5 or more lights