New Ballasts and Super Lumens ???

Had to replace some ballasts and expand the grow rooms.  Have replaced bulbs over the years, but my ballasts were stone age until this year.  Wow things have changed.  Had no clue that they had gotten so small or that single ballasts now do both MH and HPS.  But what really threw me was the dimmer and setting for "super lumens".
 
From what I can tell, the super lumens setting burns your bulb out faster but puts off 20% more light.  Let me tell you, it was the first time I had any HID going in the room since last spring.  Seedlings just under florescents.  I turned this thing on, forgetting my sunglasses, and I am still seeing spots.
 
Googled it well.  Lots of cannabis sites talk about how it shortens bulb life, but haven't found one that says by how much.  Any clue?

I tried a digital ballast when they first came out. But they were very unreliable with some bulbs.  So i went back to magnetic. I think most the bulbs are now better with them. Good luck this year Drew.

I run dual ballasts for mh/hps.

Don't waste your time on super lumens....I run mine at 75% if HEAT is an issue.

Otherwise they stay on 100%.

I see no advantage at all running at 110% / super lumens.

As for bulb life, I don't worry about.

I swap bulbs out at 3 mos for mh. 6 mos for hps.

On bulbs, used to be they cost a fortune.  I got used to replacing them once a year, which for me is really once every six months because I do not grow indoors in the summer. 
 
On the old ballasts, had my son haul one out the main grow room.  Even with a handle on top, he struggled.  I am going to miss that dead soldier.