I thought you were trying to get him to sink some cash into a digital. Sorry for the assumption. I like that one. How much more than $50 was it? It does take some time and effort, not to mention gas running down parts. If a man can get one of those for around $100 or so it's well worth it.
I've been trying to find some electrical "project boxes" for a while now. My ballasts would just be nicer to look at. Sadly, in this Hamlet/Burg I live in, you about gotta order almost everything 'cuz nobody stocks anything unless it's a hot item seller.
I have been converting used commercial HID lights since I started. I've looked at the fancy digitals in the pretty boxes, but if I HAD gone that route, I'd be out a whole lot of money. I got popped about 18 months agoo, and the cops took 4 1K HPS, 4 1K MH, 3 400w MH and 4 400w HPS ballasts. All in all, (not counting my labor) I had in all those about what I'd have paid for a real nice 1K ballast and hood from the Hydro store. AND I still have plenty of them in reserve.
I'm not that much on a budget anymore, but I'll be damned if I'll let a friggin' COP laugh at me 'cuz he got all my expensive lights!!
I was fortunate to be in a town where they tore down a huge steel factory and a huge pipe and fitting forge. I giot MAD deals on ballasts, Both MH and HPS in 400w and 1K. I bought all I could get my hands on with any spare money I could come up with. As a result, I (and all my grower friends) are well set for lights for a great while. And should the worst happen, we aint out a lot, and have some to fall back on. I have spent (wasted) my fair share of money buying the latest and greatest. If I can help someone avoid that mindset, I'll consider it a pretty good day.