True enough, but most people starting out don't have access to a PAR meter. T5s are better, as for "vastly superior", to each his own.
I can't run my tank like a lot of people do, I have to weigh Cost vs. Performance at every turn, as this is still a HOBBY. A lot of people say to "invest" in the expensive stuff up front. I can't, I just buy what makes sense at the time, and look for opportunities to upgrade later. Will I spend more in the long run? Probably. But the reality is that I have to spread that cost across time. I would love to try out Solaris, but I simply can't buy lights that cost more than most cars I have owned (including the one I'm driving right now!).
I got really annoyed at the advise I got when starting out, since most suggested stuff that was simply not affordable. I understand that an $800 skimmer will usually work better than a $200 one, but I try not to convince people they need more than they do to get started. I don't like sounding like a used car salesman, and it's not that I'm trying to guard anyone from the real sticker shock that will come with this hobby, I just assume that other people have budgets too.
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Why would you need a PAR meter? Most websites post the specifications for output or it can be fairly easy to find once you start looking.
You also make the assumption that T-5 is much more expensive than VHO, its slightly higher but not dramatically higher like your overblown examples. If you are happy with your VHO great... my advice comes after years of experience and helping many people start up their own systems, seeing how happy they were with T-5 and how many wish they had gone that route afterwards instead of VHO and how many people come on here wanting to change out VHO for T-5 once they see them in action (yes even those on a budget).
You can find used T-5 retros on this site, ebay and reefcentral all the time for good prices and fixtures are always up as well.
