The key is the get the pH to whatever your preference you want then drop perfectph and will keep it within .2 range of it. PH will start to swing when it's time to recharge perfectph which last 2-3 grows between recharging for me. I put my friends on it too. It's great for anyone using a hydro...
For me it's the total opposite. IMO soil is way more work and takes too long to get desired results. As far as power outage you generally have a good 24 hours before things start going south and it really doesn't cause more heat.
I just use my pressure cleaner to rinse the bins out never use bleach or scrub the bins and never had any sterilizing issues in all my years of growing hydro.
I do 120 single colas at a time in a RDWC set up and it's definitely worth it!!!! I flip lights after 2 or 3 days from cloning. Depending on pheno type they will grow about 3 to 4 feet tall and super easy maintenance with minimal larf and trim time.
I was kinda worried about that too so what I did is after week 4 I switch the pump from one outlet side to the other every week and so far I've never had a roots clogging the water flow or any water leveling issues with the other bins. Plus I have a mesh screen covering my pump just in case.