Bulb choice makes a big difference in this discussion. Only a few VHO brands that I know of readily available to the hobbyist, and just happens to be tried and true technology. Unfortunately there is a plethera of brands and types of T5, i.e., NO or HO let alone manufacturers, and if the T5 bulb was paird with an individual reflector, standalone or panel reflector.
Even the same bulb with an individual reflector vs without is like comparing apples to oranges, and that continues to even what kind of individual reflector used..
When saying 'I used both', why not say exactly what you used
-Justin