Yeah ultimately nothing can compare to HID. Flowering MJ uses a max of 10K Lux and a 1000W HPS can produce that from 4' away. Even if you assembled enough Floros to produce 10K Lux, it wouldn't do it an 1" away. So there is no penetration and it will NOT cost you less.

Ultimately floro is best for cloning or a short veg. Not even extended veg (like a month or more).