I never cloned before becuase like.....yeah its bigger then just starting off a new seed, but if anything I'd say by the time a clone is healed and used to the soil,by the time its 6 inches tall, a newly sprouted plant would only be like 1 or 2 inches behind the clone. So I feel its not that big of a deal, plus who wants he same bud over and over again. Just my 2 cents