This is like comparing apples and oranges. They are both fruit but they taste different. HID lights and CFLs both produce photons, however they taste different too. There are pros and cons for both types of bulb. I would not recommend using HID lights for a beginner grow, or in a situation where high temperatures are problematic. HIDs when used properly and in the right setup are going to produce better results. One also has to look at the fact that the HID grower will not be making the same mistakes that the novice CLF grower would. Give a newbie a 1000W setup and let him figure out all the other tasks (waterings, nutes, prunning, etc etc etc) and watch things go to shit.
CFLs are great for beginning growers. They are cheap, readily available and also do not require any electrical wiring knowledege. They run cool and give "ok" results. Plants will grow, people will get stoned, and MOST IMPORTANTLY the grower will be able to learn, make mistakes and advance his/her craft without getting too invested. When the grower has mastered the fine points of growing he can then upgrade to the big boy toys!
Would you put your 16 year old son into a new BMW M5? How about buying your wife/girlfriend/whatever a 1000 dollar mountian bike cause she wants to see the trails? You have to start somewhere, and CFLs are a good place to start because they give you a place to go.
And lastly, when you do upgrade to your sick new setup with those 2 600W HPS bulb, what are you going to do with the 13 CLFs you were running? Put them all over you house and save the planet, duh!
