What is more important lumens or candela
Whatever you happen to need for your current use.
Do you need something that reaches far? High candela is what you want, and usually getting that range means you need either decent output (lumens) or a large reflector (which means a VERY narrow beam, higher lumens allow for the same range with a wider beam).
Do you want something very floody to light up a wide area? Then you won’t really care about candela/intensity.
Candela per lumen is one of the most useful stats for getting an idea what a light’s beam is like.
I have lights that are the maximum of each while sacrificing the other (most cases) and then everything in between.
Everyone will likely answer the same: what is your intended use for the light?
I frequently go night hiking and aside from my crazy headlamp I don’t need more flood which is why I’m on a thrower binge.
I also do renos and electrical work on my house which means my floody lumen crazy lights are perfect for a ceiling bounce portable worklight
High Candela, Low lumens :
(Aspheric thrower (Cometa with White Flat 2mm²) with about 300kCd and 300 lumens ?)
High Lumens, low candela :
(Pocket Lumen monster (Amutorch X9), about 5500 lumens and 20kCd)
