Because it has higher CRI than HPS and lasts longer and more pleasing to eyes....plus I can't read peoples lips under HPS making it harder for me to understand people
Yep, the second one is a totally different fixture. I like mercury vapor for lights in my collection, but if I were to actually use a light for lets say outdoor lighting at my house, than I would choose MH because it has high quality white light and I don't look like a blood-sucked alien under the cast. If it was dusk to dawn security, I'd pick MV because the lamps last the longest.
I donno about the prices....but yes they have same eletrical charaterstics....however CMH is recommended to be in use on electronic ballasts....but electronic ballasts are also made for QMH lamps...
and it looks much better to me,i also notice the one on the center has a diffrent refractor than the other two.
Of course I still prefer MV for my colection.