Ok so this discussion is focused on two ends of the spectrum and trying to directly compare them. Not fair.
Really to tell the truth, it's a lot easier to find a cheap LED light than a cheap t5 light. The t5 lamps were specifically developed to pack a wallop in a slim tube. Most of the non-HO lamps are specialty spectrum, like aquarium or grow lights or UV bulbs. It's possible to find t5 bulbs that aren't commercial grade, but you have to dig.
In contrast, the inexpensive LED lights are everywhere now. You can go to the dollar store and find them for a dollar. The HO, high efficiency variety are more on par with the t5 specs and price. When you get into the premium stuff, it runs neck and neck with the other high intensity, high efficiency technologies. In today's global economy, it's becoming more and more difficult to find products made economically in this continent. Due to the compact nature of LED emitter chips, it's much more sensible to mass produce them in Asia and ship them in bulk.
http://ecorenovator.org/forum/58508-post20.html