What strips you liking? I got a fair enough budget for half a light. At around 600 canadian. Was looking at the f series strips by samsung. The ebstrips being less efficiant and probably have a snaller lifespan (i do plan on building a better light when fund approve) are half the price of the cheapest f series. So i can get many more. I can also buy the smaller samsung strips and just use good cookie sheets with a fan (if i run them hard)I would move towards the strips. All are Constant Current so any drivers you get mostly 1050B style are reusable anyway. Go cheaper and if it does not work out you just have to replace the light engine not the whole system.
Im gettin them from digikey.ca if anyone wants to look at the choices i have