I guess nobody told my plants that yet.
I think the LEDS I've assembled into panels are just fine for " how I use them".
Might not be some one else's cup of tea.
All LEDs and or panels aren't created equal.
All LEDS aren't the same.
Most commercial LED systems I've seen are junk or way over priced for what they actually are.
Most are,as stated above Hyped extremely.
My main reason for going to LEDS is my growing area is a constant 80 degrees+ with a mix of 8 dual bulb shop lights T12's and T8's and 1,4 bulb T12.
Any kind of Halide is out of the question.
No air or opening windows in that room and the building is cinder block-cools and heats slowly.
I grow year round.
Just replacing a couple Flouros dropped the temp. 5 degrees when I started playing with LEDs.
I'm building panels right now to totally replace all my grow lights with LEDs.
22 , 8in. x 16 in. panels and 15 10mm led panels that are 7in x 12 in .
22 panels are stars in 50-80 lumens each LED.50 per panel(44 red,6 blue)
15 panels are 10mm , 125LEDs,98-106 Lumens each LED.
Stars in 620nm , 625nm , 630nm 658nm , 660nm , 662nm , 440nm , 445nm , 465nm , 470nm.
10mm in 625nm , 630nm , 635nm , 637nm , 640nm , 465nm , 470nm , 475nm , 580nm , 585nm , 590nm.
Assuming the data sheets are correct for the LEDs I am using.
Stars will be horizontally over plants and 10mm will be vertically on 3 sides,Mylar up front(or I'll get blinded when I look at my shelves).
They should be more than enough light for 3-4 shelves that are 4ft. X 18in. X 20in high and a couple plants I grow for pure seeds in 5gal. hydro buckets and a small hydro garden I bought 30 yrs ago.
LEDs will be 20 inches away from shelves.No moving lights up and down etc.
Might have to put less panels per shelf though.better to err on the side of Too Bright than Too Dim.
I do think you have to build your own panels or you probably won't cover enough wave lengths in as many Lumens as you'll need for them to work right.
Just in the 3 or so years I've been playing with LEDs the prices have dropped AND the Lumens and Wave Lengths available has changed dramatically.For instance an LED in high red,until recently was never over 30 or so Lumens in a star.They make an 80-100Lumen one now.
In 10mm you can get one in about 100 lumen too.
Yes there are a lot of options out there but whatever you choose has to work for your setup and the way you want to grow your plants.
None is better than another if it isn't what you find you like or don't like -ease of use etc. in your situation.