Everyone has there own opinon but I say its easier than soil/hand watering because the only day you have to acually work on your room "water wise" is once a week rather than be in there daily. I have a drain hose ran outside my room and I simply place a drain pump inside my res. and its clear of water in min. then I installed a hose line into my room from outside so I have a water source inside. Therefore, no walking my res in and out my room anymore. I have it like that because its a stealth grow.