Same here, my first HID light was a (dead) 175w GE multivapor metal halide lamp, then a bunch of 400w and 1000w metal halides along with a couple 1000w HPS lamps, (which I STILL haven't gotten around to testing (the halides must be base up and are dirty with fingerprints on them, don't want an explosion and UV LOL. Can I run a 1000w MH on a 1000w HPS ballast?
But an Electripak 175w mercury vapor yardblaster from the 80s (long story behind it) was what I will consider my first HID light (because it is actually practical to use indoors), and I fire it up regularly.
Besides you could still get them on ebay or in Canada
but for my First HID Fixture....awesome indeed.
But I lit the yardblaster first. Then later I lit the M-400 R2. And now I have what... 19 cobraheads. xD And a NEMA head. And an HPS yardblaster.
Who ELSE had a cobrahead as their first HID fixture?
.. Other than Niall.
But an Electripak 175w mercury vapor yardblaster from the 80s (long story behind it) was what I will consider my first HID light (because it is actually practical to use indoors), and I fire it up regularly.