| We've been using various types for over 6 yrs. Most of the early ones have died. THe newer designs are much better - amorphous cells gather even overcast light instead of needing direct sun; LED lights beat any other type for long life; replaceable rechargeable batteries instead of sealed proprietary ones can only be considered a giant step forward. Cost is still an issue, although it's come down quite a bit. There's a big difference in construction quality, too. Metal is infinitely better than plastic, outside of the simplest garden lights with a flat non-adjustable solar panel. A good quality multiple LED light can throw enough illumination to rival traditional landscape lighting. However, in most regions where electricity is cheap and/or summer isn't that long, using solar will only pay if the site really requires it. Otherwise, low-voltage traditional electrical is still a better way (e.g., cheaper and more reliable light year-round) to go. FWIW, I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where putting in an electrical subpanel so I can run low-voltage electrical will cost me close to $3,000 - which buys a lot of solar lighting, LOL. | 
