I did say, "properly made bubble hash."
You buy the machine once and the bags last a long time. In the long run it would be cheaper than buying all that iso. The machine can be had for about $125 and the bags can be had for about $40. I have been paid back 50x over for those expenses.
Lets just call the cost even for simplicity. I actually thought machines ran in the 4-500 range because when I first looked, that's what I was looking at so the numbers kind of stuck. Regardless, cost of machines and bags will be well over the cost of 30gal of iso. If it all lasts forever, yes you'll come out on top. But thats alot of hash to not expect problems from cheap bags and machines, at least in my experience. Either way, we'll both make way more back for the expenses of each method, which is why I say lets call it close enough to be a moot point.
I've still found iso to be MUCH less hassle and work though, and to me time is money.
RO is not a hassle. I have one for growing. It cost $90 and will work for over 5,000 gallons before I have to change a filter. Tap water is still cleaner than ISO. It is tough to get rid of 100% of the iso.
It is not that much extra work or money for much better quality.
It is a little more work for much better quality. That is normal.
I have a setup for growing too, so having the RO isn't a hassle, I was saying that making and storing RO ice is a hassle. Filling trays every day for a week in preparation, and having to completely fill my freezer with ice is a hassle to me. It was annoying when I was doing it every 10-12 weeks, but I do it every 1-2 now so it definitely becomes a bigger deal.
Also, maybe your tap water is cleaner than iso, but average tap water has worse impurities than ISO. The 100-200ppm in most tap is far worse than the 1% 'impurity' of ISO. Most of that 1% is water anyway. And average tap aside, mine is about 350ppm and cant be used to water my soil plants. No way I'm using that to try a pure extraction, not when I can use something much safer that
does evaporate off. That leads us back to RO being too much of a hassle for me.
I have been using a $35 set for over 3 years. I'm not running pounds, i am running small batches, like most people would. If you stir in the bag and squeeze it you get lower quality and hurt your bags. ISO has to be bought every time.
You and I had very different experiences with cheap bags. I didn't stir or squeeze or abuse my bags. Surprisingly, its my work bag that has survived the best.
Au contraire, mon frere. There is no way I would mistake bubble and iso, if they were both properly made.
Bubble is slightly stronger, looks different, has a different consistency, smells better, tastes way better...
A friend with a dispensary used to make iso for the reasons you mentioned, but switched to dry ice because it is easier.
My bubble smells very floral. (It didn't hurt the last batch was from double blueberry)
I'll agree that good bubble smells more floral than iso but that doesn't mean good iso cant and doesnt smell great, and I stand by the fact that you wouldn't be able to pick my iso out from the majority of bubble going around the dispensaries in socal. I've gotten my consistency to match that of typical bubble too, since that's what most clubs are interested in. Like I said, I label correctly but clubs just call it full melt bubble anyway. Snobby patients in LA and OC don't seem to mind or notice.
Speaking of which, it is much more likely that someone would screw up iso than bubbble. If you screw up bubble, you just get more and a lower quality. If you screw up iso you could die.
I addressed this even after saying I shouldnt have to, if someone screws up iso IMO they're an idiot that shouldnt be playing with chemicals from under the counter. What is there to screw up? 1. starting a fire 2. not evaporating all the iso off before smoking. I can fix both very easily: 1. dont use heat 2. Wait until it doesnt smell like iso
I think it is worth the slight amount of extra work for the much better quality.
The cost does not matter to me. Paying a tiny bit more or working a little bit more for much better quality is not a big deal for me.
The cost isn't as much difference to me as the work. 30 minutes stirring and draining each run, or 30 seconds shaking it. Thats not a little bit if you ask me, its 60x the amount of work.
I'll drink a Pliny The Elder and leave a Natty light for you. Cool?
Get that shit outta here, I havent had to drink a Nasty or milwaukees beast in a while, I'll take a good hef please
(I'll take great iso over average bubble any day, but my bubble is the bomb. I'm not into weed and hash for money. I grow and make my own hash because I like top shelf quality. There is no reason for me to sacrifice quality for a few pennies and saved minutes.)
I hope I have not come off as a jerk. I bet we would both really enjoy each other's hash.
Not coming off as a jerk to me, just convicted. I'm pretty blunt

joint

about my opinions so I dont take it hard when others are as well. I just like being able to disagree without flaming, pretty uncommon around here, even when talking something less opinionated and more fact-based than this. People just get offended when they get told they're wrong, and usually go on the attack. (general statement, not saying youre wrong)
I'm also not trying to have a pissing contest about whether my iso is better than your iwe, Im comparing mine to the fairly large variety I've come across. And plenty of it was at some high-end shops, so I consider that to be the 'standard' in my area. If your bubble turns out better than my iso, youre one of the few. But like I've said, the very small difference in quality potential(which I can't reach anyway) isn't worth the extra time and money to me. And fwiw, I'm not in this for the money either and I make VERY little compared to what I could. I started growing for myself and loved it too much to not just keep expanding. Gardening (both weed and other things) has become one of the most therapeutic things I do, something I definitely need.