Optimizer vs Micro Invertor Question

[insaneoctane]

Yep. You are taking away the central inverter (shortest lived component) and replacing it with a dozen hard to access inverter boxes that alternately bake in the sun and chill each night. I'll keep my short lived inverter where it's handy to replace.
Word is now filtering out past enphase's "firewall" that they are having inverter failures and they are warrantying them now. couple more years, that may change.

Optimizers and micro inverters are problem solver gadgets. If you don't have an issue where you must install panels that will be shaded, they are the fix for that. otherwise, stick with a central inverter.

Without a doubt, the central inverter is easiest to replace. Data and warranties show you should expect to do so after 10 years or so. Don't the micro inverters and DC power optimizers have a 25-year warranty? Agreed they will require more work to replace, but between years 10 and 20, you have the cost of an inverter (say $2k to $3k for 6kW), of "savings" to pay some labor to have those micro inverters replaced under warranty? Then from years 20 to 25 you have another 1/2 the cost of an inverter to apply to this same scenario. Clearly, micro inverters don't have long term data on their side, I'm just saying that you can't change the technology/equipment/industry if you aren't willing to change anything...

Also, I personally see value in panel-level performance and diagnostics that micro-inverters offer. Let the flames begin....

[Mike90250]

Am I missing something obvious?

Yep. You are taking away the central inverter (shortest lived component) and replacing it with a dozen hard to access inverter boxes that alternately bake in the sun and chill each night. I'll keep my short lived inverter where it's handy to replace.
Word is now filtering out past enphase's "firewall" that they are having inverter failures and they are warrantying them now. couple more years, that may change.

Optimizers and micro inverters are problem solver gadgets. If you don't have an issue where you must install panels that will be shaded, they are the fix for that. otherwise, stick with a central inverter.

[insaneoctane]

I'm sure there are LOTS of debates on this topic, so let me narrow my question.
Regarding the DC optimizer vs micro-inverter debate, one of the pros to microinverters (IMO) is the removal of the central inverter, which I think most folks would agree is the shortest lived component in most solar arrays. But, in DC optimizer installations, you have BOTH a local component on the panel (most folks like to point out that this is "many points of failure" model) AND an expensive central inverter! It just seems like if you were going to gamble on a new technology, you'd at least get one that removes the $2k or $3k central inverter??

Am I missing something obvious?