Scott, would you have gone with a Lumenarc if it wasn't free? If you were in my situation would you pay the money for it? My concern is the size, that's why I like the pendants...
Actually, yes. The one thing I haven't skimped on has been lighting. I got into frag swaps and want coral growth. Most everything else has been a compromise based on price.
Everything I had read prior to winning the one reflector said they were the best. I saw Mike Paletta speak in Columbus and he said the same thing. Then, there was the reflector study that Sanjay did that proved it. Great reflector BUT they are expensive. Your call on if you want the added expense.
I also looked into the DIY copies they were doing. The reflective material they use from the skylight tubes is flimsy and so is the reflector once built. You don't get the true facetted reflection of the real reflectors. And I couldn't find any highly reflective aluminum that wasn't too expensive to save any money building it myself.
I have mine hanging just like a pendant over the frag tank right now. I would be concerned about coverage from some of the pendant lights.
Feel free to swing by if your in the area anytime soon.