fair enough
lets use a specific example then
If you had the choice to buy an Olight S1 Mini Low CRI or an Olight S1 Mini High CRI, knowing the tint is the same, the beam is the same, the CCT is the same, and the price is the same, and the differences are only that the High CRI is 25% less bright, but has 29% higher CRI, would YOU buy the Low CRI model?
If you say yes, why, just for the extra lumens, even though it makes red things look brown, and makes colors wash out more? Note wash out is a Low CRI issue, not just a CCT issue.
or another example, HDS w 4000k high cri N219b, or HDS w 4000k low CRI XPL. Same beam, same CCT, but the N219b has tint closer to the BBL, and does “only” 200 lumens instead of 325.
would you buy the brighter light, even though the tint is above the bbl, and it makes red things look brown due to the low CRI?
I agree there are tradeoffs, but not every single variable favors Low CRI for the same CCT. The main thing Low CRI does better is that it is brighter, but the tint is worse and the CRI is worse. Is brightness more important to you than tint and CRI, such that you would buy the XPL instead of the N219b?
If so, lets just respect that we have different priorities, neither is wrong, just different.
I care least about max lumens, and care most about High CRI. I dont want bad tint, bad beam shape, or bad price, but when I can have less lumens and more CRI with better tint, I will give up the lumens to gain the better color rendering.
Im glad you and I agree that neutral white low CRI is not better at showing colors than neutral white high CRI. I think we also agree that a neutral white Nichia most likely has better tint than a Neutral White Cree.
So my answer to the OP is, people buy Low CRI because max lumens is more of a priority for them. and many have no experience with good High CRI neutral white with good tint, good beam, and good enough brightness.